Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Two arrested in Rs 305 crore Nashik Kumbh work-order scam
In the Indian city of Nashik, some people are accused of running a big trick related to the Kumbh Mela, a very large religious festival.
They made fake papers that looked like real government documents, printed with the Government of India emblem and the name of the Kumbh Mela authority.
They told people they could get contracts to do festival work, like cleaning, if they paid money.
Police say the accused took around 305 crore rupees from the people who have come forward, although one news report gives the amount as about 3 crore rupees.
Two people, Tanay Mahajan and Narendra Totaram Mahajan, have been arrested, and police are still looking for two more.
The police have registered three cases after twelve incidents of cheating were reported.
A minister named Girish Mahajan warned people that real Kumbh Mela work orders are only given through online bidding.
He also said real documents never carry a single official's name and always have authorised QR codes.
So if someone offers a Kumbh Mela contract in person and asks for money, it is probably a trick, and people should check with the government first.
Two accused, Tanay Mahajan and Narendra Totaram Mahajan, were arrested from Jalgaon over allegedly issuing fake work orders for Nashik Kumbh Mela works, while two accomplices remain on the run.
Police allege fake work orders worth Rs 591 crore were allotted to complainants, from whom around Rs 305 crore was allegedly taken; another report describes the fraud as around Rs 3 crore.
One complainant was allegedly cheated of Rs 2,17,50,000 after being shown a fake work order bearing the Government of India emblem and the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority's name.
Three cases were registered with Nashik Road Police on August 11 after 12 incidents of cheating were reported, according to DCP Kirankumar Chauhan.
Kumbh Mela minister Girish Mahajan said genuine tenders are issued only online and warned that real work orders never carry an official's name or lack authorised QR codes; he denied any connection between the accused and his family.
- Who
- An alleged gang including arrested duo Tanay Mahajan and Narendra Totaram Mahajan, with two accomplices on the run, who targeted people seeking Kumbh Mela contracts; Kumbh Mela minister Girish Mahajan alerted Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik.
- What
- A scam using fabricated work orders for Nashik Kumbh Mela works in which complainants were allegedly cheated of around Rs 305 crore (one report says around Rs 3 crore), leading to two arrests and three registered cases.
- When
- Reported on August 12; three cases were registered with Nashik Road Police on August 11; the fraud is linked to preparations for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
- Where
- Nashik, Maharashtra, India; the arrests took place in Jalgaon.
- Why
- The accused allegedly exploited the Kumbh Mela tender process by claiming some tenders were also processed offline and demanding money after showing fake work orders.
- Alleged scam total
- Rs 305 crore (one report puts the fraud at around Rs 3 crore)
- Value of fake work orders
- Rs 591 crore
- Amount one complainant was cheated of
- Rs 2,17,50,000
- Arrested accused
- Tanay Mahajan and Narendra Totaram Mahajan (arrested from Jalgaon)
- Accused on the run
- 2 accomplices
- Cases registered
- 3 cases with Nashik Road Police on August 11
- Reported cheating incidents
- 12
- Event involved
- Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027
