Meerut | A major fraud linked to religious pilgrimage arrangements has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, where three people have been arrested for allegedly cheating several individuals of more than ₹8 lakh on the pretext of arranging Haj travel. Investigators believe the case points to a planned financial fraud operation in which victims were targeted using trust, religious sentiment and false assurances of confirmed pilgrimage arrangements.
According to police, the accused allegedly collected money from multiple people after promising complete Haj travel services, including visa processing, flight bookings and accommodation arrangements. However, despite receiving the payments, the accused neither arranged the pilgrimage nor returned the money, leaving several families facing significant financial losses.
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The case came to light after Zahir Ahmad, a resident of Laliyana village in Meerut district, lodged a complaint at Kithore police station on October 16, 2025. In his complaint, he alleged that Jabbar, his wife Nazma and another woman identified as Razia, along with a few other associates, had assured him and several others that they would facilitate their Haj journey smoothly through their travel arrangements and contacts.
Victims alleged that the accused took advantage of people’s religious faith and urgency surrounding Haj bookings. As per the complaint, a total of ₹8,06,000 was collected from multiple individuals. The complainants claimed that after receiving the money, the accused repeatedly delayed the process using various excuses and eventually stopped responding properly when questioned about travel confirmations and documentation.
Police officials said a case was registered under relevant sections after preliminary verification of the allegations. During the investigation, authorities examined financial transactions, payment records and communication details connected to the accused. Investigators are also reviewing whether forged receipts, misleading travel claims or unofficial booking documents were used to convince victims.
Following sustained surveillance and intelligence inputs, police arrested the three accused on May 27, 2026. The arrested individuals have been identified as Jabbar, his wife Nazma and Razia, a resident of Hapur district. Officials stated that several important leads have emerged during interrogation, and further questioning is underway to identify additional members possibly associated with the operation.
Investigators suspect the racket may have targeted more people than those currently identified in the FIR. Police are now attempting to trace the total number of victims, examine the bank accounts used for collecting funds and determine whether the accused operated through a larger travel or pilgrimage-related fraud network.
Authorities said the accused’s criminal background, mobile call records, digital communication history and financial transactions are being thoroughly examined. Investigators are also analysing whether the suspects had links with unregistered travel operators or informal agents who lure people with promises of cheaper or faster Haj and Umrah packages.
Residents in the area said such frauds often succeed because victims place trust in individuals claiming to have religious or travel connections. In many cases, accused persons allegedly present themselves as experienced travel coordinators or community facilitators to gain confidence before demanding advance payments.
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said frauds linked to Haj, Umrah, overseas jobs and religious travel have increased significantly in recent years. According to him, criminals increasingly rely on social engineering techniques, emotional pressure and fake assurances of limited seats or urgent processing to manipulate victims into making quick payments.
He further warned that many such frauds involve forged receipts, fake booking confirmations and unregistered travel networks that operate without proper government authorisation. He advised people to independently verify the registration, licensing and legal status of any travel agency before making payments for religious journeys or overseas packages.
Experts have also urged citizens to avoid large cash transactions and maintain written records of all payments, receipts and travel communications. Verification through official Haj portals and authorised agencies has been described as essential to prevent financial fraud.
Police have produced the arrested accused before the court and initiated further legal proceedings. Investigators believe the probe may uncover additional victims and expose a broader network involved in pilgrimage-related financial scams operating across multiple districts.
