Udalguri-Sonitpur, April 26: An FIR has been lodged in Assam’s Udalguri district following the exposure of an alleged fraud racket that duped people for nearly two years through a fake “gift coupon” scheme linked to the construction of the Orang Town Kali Temple.
According to reports, the scam operated in Orang, where an organised group allegedly sold counterfeit tickets online and circulated fabricated result lists on social media, falsely claiming that multiple lucky draws had been conducted at Orang Lakhi Mandir. In reality, organisers said the only legitimate draw took place on September 15, 2024, and was restricted to members and well-wishers.
Victims were lured with promises of winning high-value prizes, including cars and buses. After being declared “winners”, they were allegedly asked to deposit money under the pretext of insurance charges. However, upon arriving to claim the prizes, victims reportedly found the venue deserted, while the accused had switched off their phones.
The fraud, believed to involve lakhs of rupees, reportedly used QR codes and social media platforms to widen its reach across the state, causing financial losses and reputational damage to the original organisers. The development was reported by The Assam Rising.
In connection with the case, organisers Jatin Deka and Nipu Baruah filed a complaint at Orang Police Station on April 24. Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.
