Police in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly operating a fake online lottery scam using the name of the famous Murudeshwar Temple. The accused, identified as Narasingh Venkatrao Tagarbide from Bidar district, is accused of creating fraudulent social media accounts to deceive people into participating in bogus lucky draws. Investigators said he used the temple’s name and images to make the scheme appear genuine, leading several victims to transfer money online after being promised expensive prizes.

According to police, the accused created fake Facebook and Instagram pages in the name of the Murudeshwar Temple chairman and promoted advertisements claiming participants could win luxury cars, JCB machines, and motorcycles by paying an entry fee of just ₹299. Many people reportedly believed the offers were authentic and sent money electronically, only to discover later that they had been cheated. The fraud was uncovered after the temple administration filed a complaint, prompting police to register a case and launch a detailed investigation.

A special police team tracked the suspect for nearly a year, gathering technical evidence and conducting investigations across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka before arresting him on July 16, 2026. The accused was produced before a court and has been remanded to judicial custody while further investigation continues. Police have advised the public to avoid transferring money in response to online lucky draw offers and to verify the authenticity of social media pages claiming to represent religious institutions or other well-known organisations.