A middle-aged man was arrested for allegedly practising witchcraft on a 22-year-old girl and for assaulting her, police said today.
The man,identified as Baba Sayeed Mohammad Shaikh (55),who claimed to be a godman was arrested last night from Kalwa here for allegedly practising witchcraft on the victim who lived in the same locality and also physically assaulting her, Kalwa police station assistant police inspector G D Dhavte said.
Police said that the man used to practise black magic on the girl who was reportedly suffering from depression and mental anxiety.
According to complaint filed by girl's father yesterday, Shaikh also took Rs 25,000- 30,000 from them in last one year, stating that he would cure her, police said.
The complaint further said that he also lured the girl by making promises to marry her and also duped with ornaments, and other valuables like laptop etc, worth at Rs 4.95 lakh and took her to Rajasthan on November 21.
At Rajasthan, he allegedly physically assaulted her under pretext of carrying out black magic, Dhavte said.
She somehow managed to escape and returned home on November 25, following which the family lodged complaint and Shaikh was subsequently arrested.
Shaikh has been charged under IPC sections 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and other relevant sections and section 3 of Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, the officer said.
Further investigations in the case were on, police added.
