<p>Police in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/cjp-school-thik-karo-campaign-abhijeet-dipke-conducts-10-point-audit-of-schools-in-maharashtras-latur-23645725" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Maharashtra&rsquo;s Latur district</a> 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.</p>
<p>The latest arrests have taken the total number of people in police custody in the case to 15, officials said on Thursday.</p>
<h2>Two more arrested in Latur case</h2>
<ul>
<li>The two latest accused were identified as Balaraj alias Balaji Eastya Mangali, 38, from Telangana, and Mallesh Timmanna Wadger, 40, from Karnataka.</li>
<li>Police said both were taken into custody on August 19.</li>
<li>Their arrests follow the detention of 13 other people from different states after Udgir Rural Police received information about suspicious activity linked to the alleged ritual.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Lakshmi puja linked to &lsquo;money rain&rsquo; belief</h2>
<p>According to police, the accused allegedly conspired to conduct a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/lakshmi-puja-202-date-time-shubh-muhurat-and-all-you-need-to-know-23251608" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lakshmi puja </a>as part of a ritual based on the belief that money could be produced or made to appear through occult practices.</p>
<p>During the alleged ritual, police said there was also an attempt to involve a 15-year-old girl.</p>
<p>The circumstances surrounding the minor&rsquo;s alleged involvement are now part of the ongoing investigation.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>After receiving information about the suspected activity, personnel from Udgir Rural Police intervened and detained 13 people who were allegedly present at the location.</p>
<p>The subsequent investigation led police to identify and arrest two additional suspects.</p>
<h2>Case registered under black magic, POCSO laws</h2>
<p>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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/black-magic-rituals-have-no-place-in-21st-century-23583950" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Black Magic Act.</a></p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Investigation into minor&rsquo;s involvement underway</h2>
<p>A court has remanded the accused to police custody until August 21.</p>
<p>Police are now investigating the circumstances in which the minor girl was allegedly brought to or sought to be involved in the ritual.</p>
<p>Investigators are also examining the individual roles of those arrested and their alleged involvement in organising or participating in the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/mumbai-man-who-threw-best-friend-s-daughter-off-7th-floor-window-practised-occult-21696198" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">occult practice.</a></p>
<h2>A similar incident took place in Palghar in 2023</h2>
<div class="article_aboutsize__zIREa article_aboutsizeheading__BLRzw">
<p>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.</p>
<p>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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/search/bombay-high-court-articles" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Bombay High Court</a>&nbsp;and is said to be the mastermind of this gang.</p>
</div>
<div class="article_aboutsize__zIREa article_aboutsizeheading__BLRzw">
<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/search/mumbai-articles" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Jawahar police</a>&nbsp;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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
</div>
<p><strong>(With inputs from PTI)</strong></p>

Two more people have been arrested in Latur over an alleged occult ‘money rain’ ritual, taking the total number of accused in custody to 15

Latur money rain ritual: Two more arrested, total accused reaches 15

Mumbai auto, taxi fares to rise from September 1 as MMRTA approves fare hike

Police in Maharashtra’s Latur district have arrested two more people in connection with an alleged occult ritual linked to the belief that money could be made to appear through supernatural practices

Latur ‘money rain’ ritual case: Two more arrested, total reaches 15

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