The gang used to prey on young girls desperate to escape grinding poverty and make money, six people arrested so far
The godman lured the girl by promising a rain of cash Accused godman who, with the help of his team, raped 17 women
- Thane Crime Branch officials recently busted sex racket involving a godman and his team
- Police said the accused godman and his team used to lure minor girls and women
- The matter came to light when a 15-year-old girl from the Rabodi area went missing
Thane Crime Branch Unit 1 officials recently busted a sex racket involving a godman and his team, who had abused more than 17 girls and young women. The police said the accused godman and his team used to lure minor girls and women on the pretext of bringing about a money shower with his ‘divine’ powers, after which he raped them during a ritual process.
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The matter came to light when a 15-year-old girl from the Rabodi area went missing last month. A case of kidnapping under section 363 IPC (punishment for kidnapping) was filed by the police. Following the successful tracing of the minor girl, the Thane crime branch officials uncovered shocking details during her interrogation.
The godman lured the girl by promising a rain of cash
“After the minor was traced we also found that another woman was a victim of such a scam. Acting on gathered information, we arrested Aslam Khan, 54, and Salim Shaikh, 45, on February 25. Subsequent interrogation and scrutiny of Aslam's mobile phone led to the discovery of a self-proclaimed Godman. They revealed a disturbing modus operandi, which involved targeting financially vulnerable girls and women and escorting them to the Godman. The godman promised them a rain of money, which could be achieved only through a ritual which involved the woman sleeping naked, followed by specific ceremonies that culminated in a shower of currency," stated an official.
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The crime branch officials said, "On the suspect's mobile phone, we discovered a video of a woman being undressed with cash placed on her. Subsequently, she was told that a spirit comes in the body of the godman who then has a sexual relationship with the victim, and when pleased, a rain of money is showered.”
The police explained, "Aslam and Salim shared that the minor girl and woman from Rabodi were provided by an individual named Tausif Shaikh. Tausif then disclosed that Shabana Shaikh, and Shabira Jabbar Shaikh, arranged and supplied the two victims from Rabodi. Subsequently, we arrested them and initiated further investigation to locate the godman. On February 29, we apprehended the fake godman identified as Saheblal Wazir Shaikh, also known as Yusuf Baba or Bengali Baba, 61, residing in Agarwalwadi, Antophill."
On checking the phone of the accused the police found out that around 17 women had fallen victim to such a crime. “To confirm the same we checked with the other victims and they revealed they were lured in on the pretext of money and took part in the ritual.”
The police also questioned Yusuf Baba alias Bengali Baba who said he used to perform the rituals in a closed room. "The rituals on the two victims were performed at a room in Virar which was vacant for many days. After blindfolding them they used to place the cash and then claim that a rain of money was showered on them. If the victim claimed that the cash was less, they were told that the spirit wasn’t pleased with the physical relationship,” said the official
During the interrogation, the fake godman Yusuf Baba claimed that he was working abroad in the 1990s, and after 10 years he returned to India.
“When the godman returned he fell to such a practice by someone who was pretending to be a godman who robbed him of 16 lakh. To recover the money, he started a similar practice,” said the police Shivraj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of police said, "We have arrested six people including a godman and two women. Further investigation in the case is going on," A case regarding the matter was registered at Rabodi police station under sections 363, 376, and 420 of the Indian penal code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and different sections of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice other Inhuman and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
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Age of minor he raped
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