Cops book two city-based preachers after complainant alleges they took hefty donations at prayer festival and promised to cure illnesses
Dr PS Rambabu at the Prayer Festival
The Police have filed a case against two evangelists for organising a festival in Vasai, where they allegedly collected money from the participants on the pretext of curing them of their disease.
Dr PS Rambabu, who runs New Creation Ministries, and Vikas Anappa Pujari, president of Grace Generation Ministry, have been booked under the Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954.
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The case came to light after Prakash Lodaya, a resident of Vasai West, filed a complaint with the Manickpur Police. In his complaint, Lodaya alleged that Rambabu and Pujari had organised a three day-long prayer festival in Vasai starting February 6.
On the first day, Lodaya, who attended the festival out of curiosity, witnessed a gathering of over 2,000 people, praying to Jesus Christ. "Rambabu was telling people that if they pray and chant Christ’s name, all their illnesses would disappear. He also claimed that the deaf and mute, would be able to speak and hear again," said Lodaya.
Thousands are said to have attended the festival, which was held in Vasai last week
He alleged that Rambabu also called a few people from the crowd and asked about their illnesses and promised to cure it immediately.
"One of the people who came on stage claimed to have been mute. But, after Rambabu whispered something into his ear, he started shouting," he added.
Lodaya said that a form with the letterhead of the Vasai Prarthna Mohotsav was distributed among the crowd, demanding information of people and their ailments.
Dr PS Rambabu
People were also told to donate generously to help the cause, the complainant claimed.
The Manickpur Police have registered an offence under Section 5 (prohibition of advertisement of magic remedies for treatment of certain diseases and disorders) of The Durg and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954 against Pujari and Rambabu.
"We have registered an FIR, and currently investigating the case," said Anil Patil, senior inspector, Manickpur police station.
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