Hemanth Kumar Muneppa, a 33-year-old Indian-origin astrologer, was arrested when a bank raised an alarm that a senior citizen was probably getting scammed, as the 68-year-old woman went to the bank to withdraw $42,000. This was to meet the astrologer’s additional demand as the woman had already paid $20,000 to the astrologer who promised to banish evil spirits. CBS News reported that the woman believed that evil spirits were targeting her. She consulted Muneppa, who works at a psychic and astrology business called Anjana Ji on South Broadway, posing as a fortune teller who could purchase the power to fight evil spirits if the victims give him money. In a written statement to prosecutors, Muneppa allegedly admitted, “I did a few palm reading and astrology readings. She gave me a bunch of money… all $100 bills.” . He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday and was released without bail. He has been asked to wear an ankle monitor and stay away from the victim. NBC4 reported that Muneppa, a father of two, did not make any comment on the accusations. Muneppa was arrested without any incident as he was present with the senior citizen when she went to the bank to withdraw another $42,000. The bank raised an alarm and called the police, suspecting that the woman was being scammed.
Fortune-telling is an offence in New York
According to New York State law, it is illegal to charge for fortune-telling services, unless solely for entertainment or amusement purposes. Fortune telling is considered a class B misdemeanor. “A person is guilty of fortune telling when, for a fee or compensation which he directly or indirectly solicits or receives, he claims or pretends to tell fortunes, or holds himself out as being able, by claimed or pretended use of occult powers, to answer questions or give advice on personal matters or to exorcise, influence or affect evil spirits or curses; except that this section does not apply to a person who engages in the aforedescribed conduct as part of a show or exhibition solely for the purpose of entertainment or amusement,” the law says