Hyderabad Police Register Case Against Tour Company Over Alleged Umrah Pilgrimage Fraud
Hyderabad authorities have taken action against an alleged online fraud scheme targeting residents seeking to perform Umrah pilgrimages. The Mailardevpally police station has registered a formal case following multiple complaints from city residents who claim to have been cheated of substantial sums of money.
Victim Details and Modus Operandi
The primary complainant, Zeeshan Saad, a 31-year-old engineer residing in Raghavendra Colony, Rajendranagar, detailed his experience to investigators. While planning a family pilgrimage during the holy month of Ramzan, Saad encountered an Instagram page titled 'Tour 2 Umrah by Ahlan Pvt Ltd'. He contacted a person identified as Syed Absaruddin using a phone number provided on the social media platform.
"The accused collected 3 lakh rupees through two separate online transactions in December 2025," Saad stated in his complaint. "They promised to arrange all necessary visas and travel documents for our Umrah pilgrimage. However, the promised arrangements were never made, and the phone number was subsequently switched off, cutting all communication."
Multiple Victims Come Forward with Similar Allegations
Other Hyderabad residents have since come forward with parallel complaints against the same company. According to victim testimonies, payments ranging between 50,000 and 80,000 rupees per person were collected under similar pretenses.
Aslam Raza Khan, another complainant who alleges losing 6.7 lakh rupees paid for eight family members, explained: "We spoke to several other victims who shared disturbing patterns. Some reported that travel dates were changed at the last minute without explanation, while hotel booking documents provided to them were later discovered to be completely invalid. Many victims stated that all communication from the organizer ceased entirely once payments were processed."
Legal Action and Investigation
Based on the formal complaint filed by Zeeshan Saad, Hyderabad police have registered a case under specific legal provisions:
- Sections 318(4) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Section 66D of the Information Technology Act
Police authorities have confirmed that an active investigation is currently underway to identify all individuals involved in the alleged fraud scheme and recover the defrauded funds.
Company Response and Operational Suspension
In response to the allegations, the accused company has denied any wrongdoing through a series of Instagram posts. The organization claimed it was "framed by a business partner, Ashwag Ahmed, who holds 50% ownership in the company, for personal gain."
The company has announced the suspension of its operations in India, citing "unforeseen operational and financial disruptions" along with legal proceedings that allegedly resulted in the temporary freezing of its bank accounts.
In an official statement posted on Instagram, the company declared that operations would remain suspended until July 14 of this year or until further notice. The statement further indicated that upon reopening, the organization intends to implement a structured goodwill compensation program for affected customers.
This proposed program would potentially include:
- Priority rebooking for affected passengers
- Discounted pilgrimage packages
- Complimentary Umrah arrangements
The company emphasized that these measures would be "subject to specific terms and necessary approvals" once operations resume.
This case highlights the growing concerns about online fraud targeting religious pilgrims and underscores the importance of verifying travel agencies through official channels before making substantial financial commitments for spiritual journeys.
