Hyderabad, Feb. 21 -- More than 100 people in Hyderabad have alleged that they were cheated in an Umrah booking scam involving nearly Rs 1 crore, after a tour operator promised low-cost packages but failed to deliver the services, prompting demands for strict legal action.

The matter came to light after the victims approached Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan, who guided them to senior police officials and advised them to file complaints.

The accused, Syed Absaruddin, son of Syed Israruddin, a resident of Medak, has been named in multiple complaints. He is said to have operated through the Instagram account tour_2_umrah and targeted customers across the city.

Complainants said they were drawn in by social media ...