A shocking incident occurred near Thol village in Mehsana district, Gujarat, where a group of people fell victim to a fake currency scam. The fraudster lured victims with the promise of receiving genuine banknotes in exchange for donations made at a local temple. Instead of real money, he handed them fake notes from the Children’s Bank worth INR 15 lakh.
The scam began when Mahendra Patel, a resident of Rudrakutir Society in Kadi, received a phone call from his friend Jigar Thakor. Thakor informed Patel about a trustee named Dashrath Patel, who was supposedly running a scheme at a temple in Govindpura.
Dashrath Patel was offering a 10% commission on the donations made to the temple. Tempted by this offer, Mahendra Patel, along with his associates Megh Harshkumar Patel and Jigar Bhai, decided to get involved. They managed to acquire INR 1 lakh from a person named Kishorsinh Bapu, who was part of the scam.
On July 31st, Kishorsinh Bapu called Mahendra Patel and three others to meet him near the Silaj road, where Dashrath Patel arrived in a car. He handed over a bag containing what was supposed to be INR 15 lakh in banknotes.
However, when the group checked the bag, they discovered that all the notes were fake. They were from the Children’s Bank, which is not a legitimate currency. Realising they had been duped, Mahendra Patel immediately reported the incident to the Bavla police station. A complaint against Kishorsinh was filed, leading to an investigation into the matter.
This incident raises significant concerns about the security and integrity of donation practices at temples. Many devotees trust these places, believing their contributions are used for good causes. However, scams like this can damage the faith of people in such institutions. Authorities are now urging the public to be cautious and verify any schemes promising high returns on donations.
In response to the incident, local police have increased patrols around temples and are advising devotees to be vigilant. They are also reminding people to seek official channels for making donations and to avoid any offers that seem too good to be true.
This unfortunate event highlights the need for greater awareness and education regarding financial scams, especially in places where people gather for spiritual and community purposes. Authorities are working to ensure that such incidents are minimized in the future, protecting both temples and their patrons from fraudsters.