Mumbai: Man dupes women promising spiritual healing, arrested
A 37-year-old man was arrested near Mumbai's Borivli station yesterday for allegedly robbing women off jewelry and money under the guise of spiritual healing. Bhikan Namdev Mali, a vegetable vendor in Dhule, some 322 kms from Mumbai, used to lure women on Facebook and tell them that he can arrange for spiritual healing to help them combat their financial difficulties.
Mali operated for three years until this woman lodged complaint
Mali had been operating his scam for three years until 29-year-old accountant Sarika Pawar lodged a complaint against him. "On October 1, 2017, I got a friend request under a name Nandini Kamath on Facebook. I accepted her request, following which we started chatting and, eventually, we shared our numbers," read the FIR. They continued chatting and consequently, Pawar shared her problems with Kamath.
Accused said he would her with spiritual cleansing
'Nandini' (Mali) offered her brother Sagar Kamath's help, who through "spiritual cleansing" can help Pawar, she said. On October 11, Sagar called up Pawar for the first time. In the subsequent calls, Pawar agreed to Sagar's proposal of conducting the ritual at Siddhivinayak Temple for which he will charge Rs 60,000. He also asked for gold ornaments, which he said will be returned later.
He took her gold and cash and never returned
On October 20, she went to meet Sagar at Dadar station at 7.45 AM, whom she identified from a picture sent by Nandini. After handing over cash and valuables, she waited for hours for him to return. When he didn't, she and her husband approached the Bhoiwada Thana on October 22, who later transferred the case to Mankhurd police.
Using Mali's target as trap, cops arrested him
Mumbai crime branch and local police both started working in the case simultaneously. They learnt that Mali had asked another woman to meet him near Borivli station. Eventually, the cops apprised that woman of the situation and arrested Mali yesterday using her help. A case under various IPC sections has been booked against Mali, who has confessed to duping more than 15 women.
