Police bust alleged fake travel agent racket in Katra, accused arrested
KATRA — Reasi Police have arrested a man for allegedly cheating pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine by collecting money for accommodation and tour packages and issuing bills in the name of a travel firm without authorisation, officials said on Wednesday.
According to police, the case came to light after a supervisor of a hotel near Matyal Petrol Pump in Katra lodged a complaint alleging that a person posing as a travel agent had booked rooms for pilgrims but failed to provide accommodation despite collecting the full payment.
Police registered FIR No. 320/2026 under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 340(2) and 338 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Katra and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, police found that the accused had allegedly collected money from a family of pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh for a tour package and issued a bill slip in the name of a travel firm in Katra, despite no longer being associated with the firm.
A special team of Police Station Katra arrested the accused, identified as Vivek Sharma, son of Gopal Krishan and a resident of Garnai in Udhampur district, from Ambica Chowk, Katra, on October 14.
Police said ₹60,000 in cash, several bill books bearing the travel firm’s name and visiting cards allegedly used to gain the trust of pilgrims were recovered from his possession.
The investigation so far indicates that the accused may have cheated several other people using a similar modus operandi. He is presently in judicial custody, while further investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of the alleged fraud and identify other victims.
Reasi Police have urged pilgrims and tourists visiting Katra and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to remain vigilant against fraudulent travel agents and booking scams. Visitors have been advised to use authorised service providers and official portals for hotel bookings, helicopter tickets and tour packages, and to verify travel agents’ credentials before making payments. — (KIMS)
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