Nashik self-styled godman booked for cheating woman of Rs 7.5 lakh with promise of money rain

A self-styled godman in Nashik has been accused of cheating a woman of Rs 7.5 lakh. He allegedly made several promises, from curing her illness to making money rain in her house. It is alleged that in the name of rituals the woman was made to sit half-naked. Cloth stained with menstrual blood was also reportedly obtained for these rituals.

According to the complaint, the woman lives in Panvel and was suffering from an illness. She learnt that Arun Dhondu Patil, who lives in the Gangapur area of Nashik, had divine powers. Hoping to be cured, she contacted him. The godman then sent a vehicle to bring her to Nashik. The woman and her husband were brought to Nashik with black cloth tied over their eyes. After the puja, they were taken back to Panvel in the same manner. When she felt an improvement in her illness after the second ritual as well, the woman came to trust him.

Once the trust was established, the godman tempted her with the promise of making money rain. For this, he asked her to bring cloth stained with menstrual blood. The woman was again brought from Panvel to Nashik, near the Balaji temple on Gangapur Road. It is alleged that during a so-called Aghori ritual there, her clothes were removed, she was made to wear a white, transparent, thin cloth and water was poured over her. The cloth stained with menstrual blood was also worshipped. According to the allegation, items used in the ritual included a human skull, rice, turmeric, kumkum, gulal water and bukka.

The woman had paid Rs 5 lakh for this puja. The godman reportedly chanted mantras for about two hours during the ritual. It is alleged that a goat was also sacrificed. After the ritual, she was told that money would rain as soon as she reached home, and she and her husband were again blindfolded and left in Panvel. It is alleged that Rs 7.5 lakh in total was taken in the name of three such rituals.

Neither was the illness cured nor did money rain. Realising she had been cheated, the woman asked for her money back, but the godman put her off with excuses.

Activists of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti in Nashik learnt of the fraud. They met Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik and told him the whole matter. A case was then registered against Arun Dhondu Patil under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Suresh Avhad of Gangapur police station. Action has been taken under the anti-black magic law and the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The police and the samiti's activists say others may also have been cheated by promises of money rain through divine powers, mantra-tantra or Aghori puja. They have appealed to such people to come forward and file a complaint at Gangapur police station.