In the run-up to the sacred Ram Darbar consecration ceremony scheduled for June 5, Ayodhya has witnessed a disturbing exploitation of faith. An elaborate cyber scam emerged in which thousands of devotees—both domestic and international—were misled by a website named khadiorganic.com. The promise was simple yet powerful: receive special “Ram Mandir prasad” at home by paying a nominal charge.
The website, styled to look authentic, offered booking forms and payment options in INR and USD. According to authorities, over 6.3 lakh people paid ₹51 (Indians) or $11 (foreigners) per order, believing their offerings would bring divine blessings. But what they received instead was silence—and empty wallets.
₹3.85 Crore Heist Through Digital Faith
The fraud, uncovered during a cybercrime awareness campaign, revealed how the scam amassed over ₹3.85 crore in just months. Cyber officials found the site collected funds via popular digital payment platforms like Paytm, PhonePe, Mobikwik, YES Bank, IDFC, and UPI transfers.
Authorities traced the money trail to Ashish Kumar, a foreign national who was arrested and presented in court. He is believed to have orchestrated the entire operation, exploiting the public’s religious sentiment and trust in digital services.
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Police say over ₹2.15 crore has been refunded so far to 3.72 lakh victims, thanks to swift coordination with banks and payment gateways. But the damage, both emotional and symbolic, runs deep.
Faith in the Crosshairs: A Cautionary Tale
This is not merely a story of cyber fraud—it is a troubling reminder of how technology, when manipulated, can prey on belief systems. Ram devotees, eagerly preparing to witness a once-in-a-generation consecration ceremony, were instead met with betrayal cloaked in sanctity.
The local administration has urged the public to trust only official platforms for any religious contributions or purchases. Officials are also calling for stronger digital safeguards, especially for transactions linked to religious events.
As Ayodhya prepares for a historic moment, the ‘online prasad’ scam casts a long shadow over what should be a time of celebration and devotion—marking a new frontier in cybercrime that blends technology with deeply held faith.