West Bengal Priest Caught for Tricking Woman in Rs 3.5-Crore 'Mystery Box' Fraud
- Posted on December 3, 2023
- Crime and Violence
- By Arijit Dutta
- 522 Views
A priest in Darjeeling, West Bengal, was arrested for duping a woman from Nagaland with a 'mystery box' scam, extracting Rs 3.5 crore. Reverend Timothy Joshi led a gang, convincing the victim of immense fortunes through this box, which turned out to be empty.

In
Darjeeling, West Bengal, Reverend Timothy Joshi, associated with the New Life
Church Ministry, faced arrest on allegations of deceiving a woman from Dimapur,
Nagaland. Joshi reportedly convinced the woman to purchase a purportedly
miraculous 'mystery box' valued at Rs 3.5 crore, promising her immense fortune.
This incident unraveled a scheme where Joshi, known for previous fraudulent
activities, lured unsuspecting individuals into scams.
The
victim, persuaded by Joshi and his associates, entrusted Rs 3.5 crore across
multiple bank accounts between 2019 and 2020. The 'mystery box' turned out to
be an empty container, exposing the elaborate hoax orchestrated by the accused
clergyman.
Acting upon the woman's complaint, Dimapur Police apprehended Joshi. The investigation further revealed that Joshi and his brother had been involved in numerous scams, predominantly targeting individuals from northeastern states. Their manipulation tactics exploited the trust of believers, leading them to fall victim to financial deceit.
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This
incident shed light on the modus operandi of Joshi's fraudulent activities,
drawing attention to the vulnerability of individuals seeking solace and faith.
The exploitation of religious trust for monetary gains highlights the need for
stringent measures against such fraudulent practices.
The arrest of the priest in Darjeeling underscored the importance of awareness and caution among the public, emphasizing the significance of verifying claims and offers that seem too good to be true. Authorities urged individuals to exercise vigilance and report suspicious activities to prevent others from falling prey to similar scams orchestrated under the guise of religious beliefs.