A man claiming to be an Ayurvedic healer has been arrested in Bengaluru on suspicion of cheating an engineer out of nearly Rs 48 lakh with promises of curing sexual health problems, police said.
The accused, identified as Vijay Guruji from Maharashtra, is alleged to have sold expensive and potentially harmful products to the 29-year-old victim, who later developed kidney-related issues.
According to a TOI report, the complainant, a resident of Jnanabharathi and native of Shivamogga, first encountered the alleged scam on May 3, 2025. While visiting a hospital in the Ullal area, he noticed a roadside Ayurvedic camp advertising a "quick solution for sexual problems".
At the camp, he was directed to "Vijay Guruji", who prescribed a so-called "rare medicine" called Devaraj Booti at a cost of Rs 1.6 lakh per gram. The healer instructed the engineer to purchase it exclusively in cash from the Vijayalakshmi Ayurvedic Medicine Shop in Yeshwantpur, claiming it was sourced from Haridwar and would be ineffective if anyone accompanied him.
The victim’s financial ordeal then escalated over subsequent weeks. He initially gathered cash from his home to buy the powder. Vijay Guruji then prescribed an oil, Bhavana Booti Thaila, at Rs 76,000 per gram. TOI report details how the engineer borrowed money weekly from his wife and parents, paying a total of Rs 17 lakh for 15 grams of oil and other products.
The healer later warned that the treatment would fail without more of the Devaraj Booti powder, prompting the victim to take a bank loan of Rs 20 lakh to buy an additional 18 grams. He was also convinced to purchase another substance, Devaraj Rasabooti, for Rs 2.6 lakh per gram, leading him to borrow a further Rs 10 lakh from a friend.
In total, he paid approximately Rs 48 lakhs for the treatments but saw no improvement in his condition. A subsequent medical check-up revealed complications in one of his kidneys, which he attributes to the consumption of the herbal products.
Following a complaint filed on November 22, a case was registered under sections 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc), 316 (criminal breach of trust) and 318 (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) Anitha B Haddannavar said that due to the seriousness of the case, she has instructed police to clear all unauthorised roadside Ayurvedic camps.
A senior police officer reportedly confirmed Vijay’s arrest. Police efforts to locate the owner of the Ayurvedic shop and recover the defrauded money are ongoing.
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