Self-Styled Godman Arrested For Duping Rs 62 Lakh from Woman in Odisha’s Cuttack

There’s no other state in the India like Odisha. Here science and superstition go hand-in-hand. While we’ve sent powerful rockets into space, we also fret if a black cat crosses our path.

What would do you after someone tells you that he/she possesses some ‘supernatural powers’ and there is treasure hidden beneath your house or property? Well, many will fall victim to such claims and develop the curiosity to dig out the treasure.

The same thing happened with a woman in Cuttack and in the process, she was duped to the tune of Rs 62 lakh by one such ‘self-styled’ godman.

A self-proclaimed Tantrik named Sheikh Ashfaq was arrested by the Twin City Commissionerate Police on charges of cheating a woman of around Rs 62 lakh.

The victim is a woman from the Ranihat area of Cuttack. She paid up to around Rs 62 lakh to this self-proclaimed sorcerer over a period of one year, said Cuttack DCP Pinak Mishra.

The victim, a 39-year-old woman was worried about the ill-health of her mother and suspected the presence of some ‘negative energy’ at her home.

It was during this phase that the victim got in touch with Kaifi Khan who subsequently visited her house several times. The accused self-styled godman told the victim that there was some negative energy and at the same time there is a hidden treasure.

Personnel of the Mangalabag police station have seized around 70 mobile phones, cash worth Rs 2.76 lakh, two cars, other expensive items, and a bike from the possession of the arrested person.

The accused was allegedly extorting money from the woman on the pretext of ‘removing evil spirits’ from her house and locating ‘hidden treasure’ from her house.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the victim, the police carried out an investigation and apprehended him.