Five people were detained in the Maharashtra districts of Thane and Palghar for reportedly repeatedly raping a 35-year-old woman after promising to use black magic to undo “vastu mistakes” in her home and other “evil spells,” a police official said on Sunday.
According to the official, the five people who have been detained are friends of the victim’s husband. They allegedly informed the victim that in order to find peace for herself and her husband, she would need to participate in certain rituals.
“The accused began visiting the victim’s home often beginning in April 2018 and would perform rituals while the victim was alone herself. They would give her a drugged beverage they called “panchamrit” and rape her, he said. Additionally, the accused stole gold and cash from her, allegedly for rituals that would bring about peace, wealth, and a steady government position for her husband.
She was raped in 2019 in Thane’s Yeoor Forest, followed by assaults at the main accused’s house in Kandivali and a resort in Lonavala. She was robbed of gold and Rs. 2.10 lakh, he said.
On September 11, a Talasari lady who mostly consists of tribal people made a complaint, and on the same day, a police squad detained Ravindra Bhate, Dileep Gaikwad, Gaurav Salvi, Mahendra Kumavat, and Ganesh Kadam for the offense.
Senior Inspector Vijay Mutadak of Talasari Police Station stated, “We are investigating whether the five accused have employed the same method of operation on other individuals as well.” The five have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 376(2)(n) (offense of committing rape repeatedly on the same lady), and 420 (cheating), according to Palghar Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil.
Additionally, he claimed, the 2013 Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act has been used.