Man booked for duping Thane family of Rs 1.66 crore with ‘black magic’ claims

A family from Thane district in Maharashtra was allegedly cheated of more than Rs 1.66 crore by a man who exploited their fear of black magic and promised to resolve their problems through elaborate rituals and religious pilgrimages, police said.

The Kasarvadavali police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on April 2 against Manjunath Shetty , a resident of Andheri in Mumbai, after the family alleged they had been manipulated into making large payments over nearly two years to neutralise a supposed supernatural curse cast by a relative.

According to the complaint, the family first met Shetty at a public event in January 2024. During their interaction, he allegedly learned about their financial difficulties and convinced them that their misfortune was caused by “black magic” performed by a relative to obstruct their progress.

To counter the alleged curse, Shetty reportedly prescribed a series of rituals and insisted that the family undertake a pilgrimage to the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Investigators said he reinforced his claims by pointing to minor setbacks experienced by the family, presenting them as proof that supernatural forces were affecting their lives.

Police said the accused initially collected Rs 10 lakh in cash between February and April 2024, claiming the money was required to purchase ritual materials and conduct special ceremonies.

The payments later escalated significantly. From May 2024 to January 2026, the family allegedly transferred about Rs 1.56 crore through online transactions to bank accounts linked to Shetty and his mother.

Shetty also allegedly sought additional money for pending court cases , warning the family that if he were jailed the rituals would remain incomplete and their problems would never improve.

Police have booked him under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act, 2013 . No arrest has been made and further investigation is underway.