The Gujarat Police have arrested six college students from Rajasthan for allegedly running a sophisticated cyber fraud network that defrauded pilgrims seeking accommodation at guest houses managed by the Shree Somnath Trust in Gujarat, officials said on 25 February 2026.
The arrests follow multiple complaints from devotees who thought they had booked rooms at guest houses such as Sagar Darshan, Maheshwari and Lilavati through what appeared to be legitimate online portals. When pilgrims arrived at the guest houses, they discovered no reservations existed in the Trust’s official system.
Fake Websites and AI Tools Used to Lure Pilgrims
A detailed technical investigation by the State Cyber Centre of Excellence revealed that the accused had created four fraudulent websites designed to look nearly identical to the official Somnath Trust booking portal. These fake sites replicated the layout, logos and photos of the real guest houses and were promoted using paid online advertisements so they appeared prominently in search results.
To convince victims of authenticity, the websites also displayed mobile numbers controlled by the accused and directed users to make advance payments through QR codes, UPI and bank transfers. In some cases, users were also misled by links that appeared to offer online pooja or donation services.
After receiving payments, the group sent what appeared to be AI-generated booking receipts to victims. Pilgrims only realised they had been defrauded when they reached the guest houses and found no record of their reservations.
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Arrests and Network Details
Technical surveillance traced the fraudulent operation to a rented property in Jaipur, Rajasthan, where the six suspects are believed to have been running the scheme for around five months. The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Sachin Harsana
- Abhishek Upadhyay
- Rajkumar Pratap
- Shersingh
- Madhav Gurjar
- Vishnukum Avatar
All six are reported to be college students from Rajasthan.
Gujarat Police Superintendent Rajdeepsinh Zala said bank account analyses and digital transaction records linked the accused to more than 90 cyber fraud complaints across India registered through the government’s 1930 cybercrime portal and the Samanvaya portal.
Estimated Losses and Wider Network
Officials estimate that approximately ₹20 lakh was defrauded through the fake Somnath guest house booking websites alone. Investigations are ongoing to determine the total amount involved in all related scams, including those tied to other popular religious destinations.
Police have also identified similar fake booking sites allegedly created in the names of other religious organisations and sites, such as ISKCON in Vrindavan, Kashi Vishwanath and Nathdwara, indicating the scheme’s wider reach.
Advisory to Pilgrims
Authorities and the Shree Somnath Trust have warned pilgrims and visitors to only make accommodation bookings through the Trust’s official website and to verify the authenticity of online platforms before making payments. The Trust has not authorised any third-party platforms, including Agoda or similar services, for bookings.
Police emphasised that fake websites and fraudulent payment channels are common tools used by cybercriminals to target unsuspecting travellers and devotees, and urged the public to remain vigilant.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
