Astrologer Arrested After Suspicious Withdrawal Attempt by Senior Citizen
A 33-year-old astrologer of Indian descent was arrested in New York following a suspicious bank withdrawal attempt involving a senior citizen. The incident raised red flags and led to the discovery of what investigators believe to be an ongoing scam linked to fortune-telling services.
Hemanth Kumar Muneppa was taken into custody after he accompanied a 68-year-old woman to a bank where she tried to withdraw $42,000. Bank staff, suspecting fraud, alerted the police.
The elderly woman had already given Muneppa $20,000 and was trying to meet his additional demand for another $42,000. She had approached him for help, believing that evil spirits were affecting her life. Muneppa, who worked at a psychic and astrology business named Anjana Ji on South Broadway, allegedly pretended to have special powers that could help her if she paid him.
In a statement to prosecutors, Muneppa reportedly admitted to conducting several palm and astrology readings and noted that the woman had given him a large sum of money in $100 bills.
He was arrested without resistance and appeared in court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty. Although he was released without bail, he has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor and is prohibited from contacting the victim.
News outlets, including CBS News and NBC4, have reported that Muneppa, a father of two, chose not to address the charges against him.
Under New York State law, charging for fortune-telling services is not allowed unless it is clearly defined as entertainment. The law classifies fortune-telling as a class B misdemeanor if someone claims to have the ability to tell fortunes or to exorcise evil spirits in exchange for payment.
