Bengaluru, 29 April

A man dressed as a Naga sadhu allegedly tricked a car driver into parting with a gold ring worth Rs 11,000.

The incident took place within the limits of the High Grounds Police Station in the city.

The impostor, posing as a Naga sadhu, had approached Venkatesh Krishnaiah, a private cab driver and resident of Vyalikaval while he had been walking along the roadside on 26 April.

The accused handed him five rudraksha beads and asked him to return one. He then wrapped the bead in a piece of paper, muttering something with his eyes closed.

The rudraksha on unwrapping had mysteriously turned into a flower. Claiming it to be a divine sign of good fortune, the baba convinced Krishnaiah to remove his gold ring under the pretext of a ritual.

He then smeared ash (bhasma) on Krishnaiah's forehead, muttered a few words and fled with the ring.

The victim later filed a complaint at the police station. The police registered a case and launched a search for the fraudster.