21 August,2026 01:54 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondent
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Police in Maharashtra's Latur district have arrested two more people in connection with an alleged occult ritual centred on the superstition that money could be made to appear through supernatural practices.
The latest arrests have taken the total number of people in police custody in the case to 15, officials said on Thursday.
According to police, the accused allegedly conspired to conduct a Lakshmi puja as part of a ritual based on the belief that money could be produced or made to appear through occult practices.
During the alleged ritual, police said there was also an attempt to involve a 15-year-old girl.
The circumstances surrounding the minor's alleged involvement are now part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident reportedly took place in the early hours of August 16 near Karadkhel Pati on the Latur-Udgir road, around 20 km from Udgir.
After receiving information about the suspected activity, personnel from Udgir Rural Police intervened and detained 13 people who were allegedly present at the location.
The subsequent investigation led police to identify and arrest two additional suspects.
A case has been registered at Udgir Rural police station under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
The accused have also been booked under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in connection with the alleged involvement of the minor.
A court has remanded the accused to police custody until August 21.
Police are now investigating the circumstances in which the minor girl was allegedly brought to or sought to be involved in the ritual.
Investigators are also examining the individual roles of those arrested and their alleged involvement in organising or participating in the occult practice.
The Palghar district Jawhar Police Station has busted a gang and arrested three persons who allegedly used to dupe people by pretending to make cash rain with black magic.
Taking the advantage of the darkness, the two accused have absconded from the spot. One of the accused is an advocate who was practicing in the Bombay High Court and is said to be the mastermind of this gang.
The Jawahar police have booked four accused under sections 34, 420, 489A, 489E and 511 of the IPC and section 3 of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
The three arrested accused were identified as Manik Batra, Ketan Patil and Shrinath Bhoye, accused Tukaram Dambale is said to be the mastermind of the gang.
(With inputs from PTI)
