Self proclaimed 'healer' Dr Sebastian Martin passes away

Self-proclaimed miracle healer, famous for his Arararara chant, Dr Sebastian Martin yesterday lost the battle to a prolonged illness. He died at his Vasai home in the early hours of Wednesday. However, the local police did not perform a post-mortem and the body was buried immediately.

Dr Sebastian Martin

The local doctor who was treating Martin handed out the death certificate. Inspector Sampatrao Patil, in-charge of Vasai police station, said, "He had been bed-ridden for the past several months. We have recorded statements of many people, but there was no need for a post-mortem as he died a natural death." Martin had shot to fame through his viral Arararara and Alleluia videos. He also operated the Ashirwad Prayer Center in Vasai, where he claimed to heal diseases like cancer and organ failure.

A source said, "There is also a bus kept in the Vasai center and if someone doesn't feel well, like they are suffering a headache or stomach ache, then the person just had to go for a ride on it, by which they would be healed. He mainly targeted poor people."

Case registered
Earlier this year, a case had been registered against Martin under the Anti Superstition And Black Magic Act. Inspector Patil said, "Managers were arrested, but Martin escaped and later, due to illness, he was admitted to hospital. Afterwards, he got bail from the court."

After the FIR, the centre was closed down for some time, but later, it was permitted to restart under the condition that Martin wouldn't spread superstition. On Wednesday, a large number of his followers reached Vasai to participate in his final rites.