Man, 58, a fake 'astrology guru', gets 9 months' jail for duping 4 people of more than S$38,000, lawyer says 'he couldn't predict his own downfall'

A 58-year-old man, Allam Narasimha, an Indian national, duped four victims in Singapore into parting with more than S$38,000 in money and jewellery by professing to be an astrologist and palm reader, who could help them arrange religious rituals and prayers.

Allam pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal breach of trust and was sentenced to nine months' jail on Jan. 27.

In arguing for a reduced sentence, Allam's defence lawyer posited that the embarrassment and scrutiny he would face back home was punishment too, saying, "As an astrologer, he couldn't predict his own downfall."

Arrived in Singapore in September 2024

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Allam arrived in Singapore on Sep. 13, 2024.

He embarked on a scheme to deceive Singaporeans by targeting their religious beliefs.

With the help of an unknown person, who he claimed to be his son, Allam advertised himself as a "guru" in Indian astrology and palm reading services on Facebook.

He would meet with his victims at their homes or in public and communicated with them via WhatsApp and phone calls.

Targeting their religious beliefs, Allam would claim that there were "evil spirits", "negative forces", "bad eyes" or "black magic" befalling the victim.

He would then inform the victims that if they provided money and jewellery to him, he would use them to perform personalised religious prayers or rituals in India.

He started by asking for small amounts, but would progressively ask for more as he gained the victims' trust, claiming that the larger amounts were needed to perform "stronger" or "dangerous" prayers or rituals.

However, Allam had no intention to perform such rites.

Instead, he kept the money and jewellery.

To cover his tracks, he would send victims photographs or recordings, including online stock photographs, and lied to victims to create a facade that the rituals or prayers were being conducted in India.

Asked married couple for phones as gifts

Two of Allam's victims were a married couple, who were told by the accomplice that the wife was unable to bear children as she was under "black magic".

In total, they entrusted Allam with over S$20,000 in cash over four occasions between Oct. 8 and Oct. 16, 2024, thinking they would be used for rituals and prayers in India to help with their situation.

On Oct. 28, 2024, Allam told the married couple that he had to urgently return to India as his assistants were injured by "evil spirits".

He requested from the couple two handphones as gifts for his assistants.

Sensing that something was off, the couple filed a police report.

Allam was arrested the next day on Oct. 29.

According to court documents, Allam made full restitution to the victims more than a year later on Nov. 21, 2025.

Embarrassment and scrutiny as mitigation

In court, the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) called Allam a "serial swindler" and sought a jail time of between 12 and 14 months, The Straits Times reported.

Chan argued that although Allam made full restitution, this was done more than a year after the offences were committed.

As such, it was motivated not by "genuine contrition", but by an expectation of obtaining "a lighter punishment".

The defence lawyer argued that Allam has around 40 years of experience in his field and is renowned for his services in Telengana, South India.

He noted that news of Allam's arrest has reached his relatives and friends back home, and that Allam will continue to face scrutiny and embarrassment, ST reported.

Suggesting that this would be a form of punishment in itself, the lawyer asked for a shorter sentence of seven months.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News