11 June,2016 08:35 AM IST | | Samiullah Khan
The victim handed over her mangalsutra, chain, locket, rings to the tantrik and borrowed money on interest for the various poojas
The Charkop police have arrested a 26-year-old man under the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, 2013 for duping a housewife of over Rs 6.5 lakh by assuring her that he would rid her house of problems she had been facing. He took the money from her for various poojas, etc.
The victim stays at Charkop sector number 7 along with her husband, 13-year-old daughter and in-laws. According to the police, the complainant had borrowed money to pay the accused. Later, when the accused stopped taking her calls, the woman approached the Andhshraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and with their help, an FIR was registered. Police arrested the accused, identified as Sagar Joshi, from his Malad residence. He was produced before the Borivli Metropolitan magistrate court yesterday and remanded in police custody till June 13.
Problems galore
According to the victim, "In 2014, Joshi visited my residence for the first time to take a donation for Ganapati. In good faith, I paid him. He subsequently told me that there was some problem in my family. He said all my family members are against me, but he could do a pooja or hawan to help rid all the problems from my life. But I had to pay R3,000 for it. So, I paid him."
She said on different occasions, for various poojas, Joshi took lakhs of rupees including her jewellery (Mangalsutra, chain, locket and rings). "Till 2015 I have paid more than Rs 6.5 lakh including jewellery to Joshi at various occasions to rid the house of problems, but nothing has changed. When I tried to contact him over the phone, he did not attend the calls and later switched off his mobile phone," she added
Police says
"On her complaint we lodged an FIR under Sections 420, and 406 of IPC, and 3 (2), (3) of Anti-Superstition and Black magic act, 2013 and arrested Joshi. It is suspected that he has duped several other people too in the past, and it is possible that more people will complain against him. We are still to recover the goods. The investigation is on," said Senior Police Inspector R Gaikwad from Charkop Police station.
