In a horrifying incident in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra, five individuals have been apprehended for sexually assaulting a woman. While promising the 35-year-old to help get rid of “Vastu mistakes” and “evil spells,” they repeatedly raped her, said the police on Sunday.
The arrested individuals were acquaintances of the victim’s husband, and they convinced her that her husband was under the influence of a malevolent spell. To restore peace and harmony, the victim was coerced into participating in these purported rituals.
According to the official, this disturbing ordeal began in April 2018 when the accused started visiting the victim’s home. They would administer a spiked drink, referred to as ‘panchamrit,’ and then sexually assault her while she was under its influence.
In addition to the sexual abuse, the accused also extorted gold and money from the victim, claiming that these resources were necessary for various rituals that would secure peace, prosperity, and a stable government job for her husband.
The victim’s suffering extended to different locations, including a forest in Thane in 2019, a mutt in Kandivali, and a resort in Lonavala. The perpetrators also swindled Rs 2.10 lakh and gold from her during this time.
Following the woman’s complaint, which she filed on September 11, a police team apprehended the five accused: Ravindra Bhate, Dileep Gaikwad, Gaurav Salvi, Mahendra Kumavat, and Ganesh Kadam. Authorities are currently investigating if these individuals employed similar tactics on other victims.
The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (rape), 376(2)(n) (repeated rape of the same woman), and 420 (cheating). Furthermore, they have been charged under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act 2013, as stated by Palghar Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil in an official release.
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