Income Tax Officer Loses Gold Worth Lakhs To Parrot Astrologer In Bengaluru

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 16:46 IST

He brought 194 grams gold and 1.3kg silver worth Rs 35 lakh from home and handed them over to the astrologer. Next day, the officer called Shekar whose phone was switched off.

An administrative officer at the Income Tax department in Bengaluru was casually passing by Sri circle near Bharatinagar, Bengaluru in December last year. There he happened to spot Shekar, a parrot astrology reader who was sitting on the footpath. Shekar, true to his professional skill told the officer that something must be bothering him big time and he can note that much by just looking at his face. The officer didn’t pay much heed to this man and just went about his way.

Something from this short conversation stayed with the officer and returned to the astrologer on the same spot after a few days. Now, the astrologer with his parrot said that a certain ‘important puja’ needs to be done for the welfare of the officer and the cost of the whole thing is Rs 50,000.

Puja Performed, Call Continued

The officer gave the said amount and waited for the results. Both the men were in touch through phone. The astrologer allegedly gave an update saying the said puja was successfully done to which the IT officer agreed.

Later on, when the trust between them grew enough the IT officer went back to Shekar asking him to help him clear his transfer request which was apparently stuck for some time. To this, the astrologer is said to have told the officer to bring all the gold and silver in his house, a specific kind of puja is to be done with those valuables which he can collect the very next day after the puja was done.

Leap Of Faith

So, the officer, without telling his family that was travelling, brought 194 grams of gold and 1.3kg of silver worth Rs 35 lakh from home and handed them over to the astrologer. Next day, the officer called Shekar whose phone was switched off. Panicked, he rushed to the roadside spot where the astrologer was always present. He wasn’t there as well. Gone with him was valuables worth 35 lakh rupees!

Now, the officer has lodged a complaint with Bharatinagar police against Shekar who is absconding. Police has launched a man hunt to find this man who is on the run.

“The way this street-smart guy duped an educated man is very astonishing. But we see such cases every now and then. We are checking CCTV cameras at multiple related locations. We hope to catch him soon with all the valuables belonging to the educated man", said Bharatinagar police addressing media in Bengaluru.

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