Man impersonating ‘black magic healer’ dupes woman of Rs 10 Lakh in jewellery

Mumbai: Police have registered a case against a man who allegedly cheated a woman out of gold jewellery worth around Rs 10 lakh by posing as a practitioner of black magic rituals, officials said on Saturday.

According to the Vile Parle police, the accused, identified as Ramchandra Sutar, convinced the woman that her family was under the influence of black magic and claimed he could neutralise it through special rituals. He reportedly visited her residence in October and performed a puja, charging her a substantial amount for the service.

During a later visit, the man allegedly asked the woman to place all her gold jewellery in a steel container, telling her that the ritual would bring prosperity and improve her family’s fortunes. He also instructed her not to open the container until he gave further directions.

The fraud came to light when the woman opened the container weeks later as she needed the jewellery for a family wedding, only to discover that it was empty. She then approached the police and lodged a complaint.

An FIR has been registered in the matter, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the accused, police added.

(with inputs from agencies)