Navi Mumbai Woman Duped Of Rs 1.9 Lakh By Fake ‘Godmen’, Duo Arrested Within 24 Hours

In a swift crackdown, Navi Mumbai police arrested two self-styled godmen from Nashik for allegedly cheating a 27-year-old woman of Rs 1.9 lakh by invoking fear and promising relief through black magic rituals.

Police said the accused approached the woman in Diwale village and convinced her that she was under the influence of negative forces, requiring special pujas and occult rituals for relief. They allegedly built trust over time and used fear of grave personal troubles to manipulate her into paying money.

The duo claimed they would conduct ‘aghori’ rituals to remove a curse , even telling the victim they would involve a “guru” to intensify the process, a tactic seen in similar fraud cases. Over several months, they extracted Rs 1.47 lakh in cash and Rs 43,000 via online transfers between September and December 2025.

Following a complaint filed on April 24, the police launched a probe and traced and arrested the accused within 24 hours from Ghoti in Nashik district. They were identified as Arjun Bharat Chavan alias Tantan Baba and Sagar Shivaji Shinde alias Ekalhari Baba .

Officials said the accused have been booked under cheating provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act , which criminalises exploiting people through claims of supernatural powers.

Police are now probing whether the duo targeted more victims, noting that such frauds often involve systematic exploitation using superstition and staged rituals . Similar recent cases across Maharashtra show victims being coerced through fear, threats, or promises of miraculous solutions.

Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and report individuals claiming supernatural powers, stressing that such acts are punishable offences under state law.