NAGPUR: The Beltarodi police on Sunday arrested three persons for allegedly impersonating representatives of Chamatkari Shri Hanuman Mandir, Jam Sawli, and collecting donations through fake receipt books in Beltarodi.As per the complaint filed by Rajendra Sangam (50), three individuals arrived at his residence around 9am on July 5. They introduced themselves as authorized representatives of the Jam Sawli Hanuman Temple and solicited donations for Mahaprasad and other religious activities. Sangam grew suspicious and alerted the police. A team led by police sub-Inspector Amol Shinde detained the trio.During interrogation and verification of receipt books, police contacted the secretary of temple trust, who confirmed that none of the accused were authorised to collect donations.Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused — Krishna Walke from Mohpa, Kalmeshwar, Raja Kale from Babulkheda and Vishal Walke from Katol — had collected 101 from at least one resident using forged documents. All three are in police custody, said senior inspector Ritesh Aher of Beltarodi police station.Jitendra Chandurkar, health committee chairperson of Besa Pipla Nagar Panchayat, told TOI that local residents had tipped him off about suspicious individuals moving in the area, seeking donations for an event at the Jam Sawali Hanuman Temple. “We realised that they were carrying fake receipt books,” he said.Chandurkar also added that the suspects claimed a padayatra had been organised from Mahakali Nagar slum in Beltarodi to the temple, which was found to be false. “They have defrauded many people. We have received inputs that a gang is conducting a recce of the localities, and then late at night, they break into homes and steal valuables and jewellery,” he said.
