Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 16:48 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 in the Income Tax department in Bengaluru was casually passing by Sri Circle near Bharatinagar in December last year when he spotted Shekar, a parrot astrologer sitting on the footpath. Shekar, true to his professional instincts, told the officer that something must be troubling him deeply and that he could tell just by looking at his face. The officer did not pay much attention to the man and went about his way.

However, something from that brief conversation stayed with the officer, and a few days later he returned to the same spot to meet the astrologer again. This time, the astrologer, along with his parrot, told him that an ‘important puja’ needed to be performed for his welfare and that it would cost Rs 50,000.

Puja Performed, Calls Continued

The officer paid the amount and waited for results. The two men stayed in touch over the phone. The astrologer later informed him that the puja had been successfully completed, and the officer appeared to accept the update.

As trust between them grew, the officer returned to Shekar seeking help with his transfer request, which had reportedly been pending for some time. The astrologer allegedly told him to bring all the gold and silver from his house, saying a special puja needed to be performed using those valuables. He assured the officer that the items could be collected the very next day after the ritual.

Leap of Faith

The officer, without informing his family who were travelling at the time, brought 194 grams of gold and 1.3 kg of silver worth about Rs 35 lakh from his home and handed them over to the astrologer.

The next day, when the officer tried calling Shekar, his phone was switched off. Alarmed, he rushed to the roadside spot where the astrologer usually sat, but Shekar was nowhere to be found. Gone with him were valuables worth Rs 35 lakh.

The officer has now filed a complaint with the Bharatinagar police against Shekar, who is currently absconding. Police have launched a manhunt to track down the suspect.

“The way this street-smart man duped an educated officer is quite astonishing. But we see such cases every now and then. We are checking CCTV footage from multiple locations related to the case and hope to catch him soon along with the valuables belonging to the officer," Bharatinagar police told the media in Bengaluru.

News cities bengaluru-news Income Tax Officer Loses Gold Worth Lakhs To Parrot Astrologer In Bengaluru