A judge posted in Saharanpur has been cheated of nearly Rs 24 lakh by fraudsters who promised to arrange a Haj pilgrimage. The police have arrested two individuals, Osama Rashidi (30) and Ejaz Ahmad (31), from Lucknow, while two other accused remain at large.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The complainant, currently serving as an additional district and sessions judge (SC/ST), had planned a Haj pilgrimage with his family. He came into contact with Aamir Rashidi, his son Fahad Rashidi, and their associate Ejaz Ahmad in July 2025. The trio introduced themselves as representatives of a travel firm named Al Fahad Tourism Pvt Ltd.
The accused offered an all-inclusive Haj package costing Rs 4.75 lakh per person. The package promised visa processing, air travel to Saudi Arabia, accommodation, food, local transport, and guide services. To build trust, Ejaz Ahmad sent a formal agreement via WhatsApp on July 31, 2025, claiming to be the company’s general manager. The document carried a company seal and even stated it could be submitted before the Allahabad High Court for travel permission.
Payment and Evasion
Trusting the offer, the judge transferred Rs 23.99 lakh in phases to accounts linked to the accused. However, as the travel date approached, the accused allegedly kept delaying the issuance of visas and tickets. Eventually, they refused to provide any documents. Investigation revealed that the firm had no valid licence to arrange Haj tours and had used forged documents and fake credentials to execute the fraud.
Company Background
The company was reportedly shown as registered under the names of Osama Rashidi and Mohammad Aamir Rashidi, with an address in Hussainganj, Lucknow. SHO of the cyber cell, Indresh Saroj Chauhan, stated that the travel company had been operating in Lucknow for the past seven years but lacked any legal papers required by the Saudi government to send people on Haj packages.
“We are searching for two other accused in the case and also tracing other people duped by the company,” he added.
