Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has lodged a formal complaint with the Puri Cyber Police regarding a fraudulent website that deceived devotees by offering paid online bookings for darshan of the deities. Officials emphasised that darshan at the 12th-century shrine is entirely free, and there is no system for online paid entry.
The SJTA reported that the fake portal enticed devotees by charging fees between Rs 50 and Rs 500 for different darshan categories. It even included fabricated information about the temple’s history, rituals, and timings to mislead worshippers. Some sites allegedly targeted overseas devotees, quoting prices in US dollars for puja and darshan services.
SJTA Chief Administrator Arabinda Padhee condemned the fraudulent activity, asserting that the temple does not charge for prayers or darshan. “We discovered an online platform promoting a paid darshan system, which is both fake and illegal. SJTA does not collect money for darshan of the deities it is completely free. We urge devotees not to be misled by such fraudulent websites,” he stated.
The administration has asked cyber police to identify and take strict legal action against those responsible for the scam to protect devotees’ interests.
Following the complaint, the temple’s security administrator, Hemant Padhi, confirmed the situation. “Anyone charging money online in the name of darshan is cheating devotees. Darshan is free for all,” he reiterated.
Puri SP Prateek Singh confirmed that a dedicated team of cyber experts has begun investigating the case. “This is not the first attempt. We have seen repeated fraud through online platforms exploiting devotees’ faith. This time, a detailed probe has been initiated, and strict action will follow,” Singh assured.
Temple servitors and devotees have expressed concern, noting that multiple fake websites have emerged in recent months, misusing the name of Srimandir to exploit millions of Jagannath followers worldwide. Reports indicate that over the past year, at least a dozen such websites have been operational, charging between ₹100 and ₹7,500 for fictitious darshan slots, online pujas, and even Mahaprasad delivery.
Recently, police identified another fake portal promoting online rituals, including Abhishek Puja, Tulsi Daan, and special darshan packages for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra—each listed at varying rates. Authorities suspect an organized racket behind these recurring scams.
In urging vigilance, the Puri SP advised devotees to rely solely on official announcements from SJTA. “We advise devotees to remain cautious. Action will be taken against those responsible for spreading false and deceptive content online. We have previously shut down fake websites, and the crackdown will continue,” he said.
The SJTA has reiterated that darshan of Bhagwan Jagannath at Srimandir remains free and accessible to all, and that devotees must not fall victim to fraudulent platforms.
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