The Ernakulam rural police had on Sunday allegedly duped a man of jewelry and cash after he persuaded him to conduct a puja to avoid cursing his family.
Rajan, 48, from Kolencherry was arrested by the Vadakkekara police. He and another man reportedly told the woman that something bad would happen to her son who was working abroad and suggested she perform a puja to remove the curses.
They convinced him to give her a gold chain, rings and an amount of ₹ 1,400, on the promise that the ornaments would be returned after the puja. The woman approached the police after she refused to return the jewellery.