The OPID Court in Balasore, Odisha, has sentenced Mumbai-based Nabeel Abdul Mubin Shaikh to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for defrauding 189 Muslim devotees in the name of Haj pilgrimage packages.
Alongside the imprisonment, Shaikh has been fined Rs 2.75 lakhs, with an additional sentence of 15 months if the fine is not paid.
Between 2019 and 2023, Shaikh and his associates collected over Rs 1.2 Crores through fraudulent travel agencies such as ‘Al-Adam Tour & Travels’ and ‘Al-Izma Tours & Travels.’ Promising affordable Umrah pilgrimage tours, they induced victims with advertisements on social media and printed pamphlets. However, instead of fulfilling their promises, they misappropriated the collected funds, leaving hundreds of pilgrims stranded.
The swift investigation and prosecution led by Inspector Tapas Ranjan Sahu and Special PP Pranab Kumar Panda ensured justice within just six months of registering the case. While Shaikh has been convicted, investigations against other accomplices are ongoing.
