A grave incident of exploitation, fraud, and sexual assault has surfaced in the Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, orchestrated under the guise of superstition and occult rituals. The perpetrators allegedly lured a woman by promising to remove persistent obstacles in her marriage, cure her ailments, and eradicate her life troubles through special prayers. Ensnared in this calculated deception, the victim was subjected to severe abuse. Local law enforcement took swift action, arresting the primary accused, Chandra Kumar Jaiswal, along with his female accomplice, Gayatri Manikpuri, and sending them into judicial custody.
Lured to a Rented House Under the Pretext of Worship
According to police accounts, the accused had thoroughly convinced the victim that her marriage hurdles and health issues could be resolved through spiritual rituals. Under this pretext, she was summoned to a rented house arranged by the culprits. Once the woman arrived, the main accused handed her water, falsely claiming it was ritually consecrated holy water meant to absolve her troubles. In reality, the water was heavily laced with sleeping sedatives. Shortly after consuming the drink, the victim lost consciousness and became completely incapacitated.
Sexual Assault While Unconscious and Extortion of Large Sums
Taking advantage of the victim's helpless and unconscious state, the main accused committed sexual assault. However, the crime extended far beyond assault; the accused systematically exploited her vulnerabilities by promising business opportunities, medical cures, and relief from distress, thereby extorting approximately 600,000 rupees from her over time. Preliminary police investigations revealed that both suspects conspired together in executing the entire plot, with the female accomplice playing an equally suspicious and active role in the conspiracy.
Case Registered Under Relevant Sections of the BNS
Following the disclosure of the harrowing ordeal, the Gharghoda police registered a formal criminal case against both accused individuals under Sections 64, 61(2), 49, 123, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Advancing the legal process, the police apprehended Chandra Kumar Jaiswal and Gayatri Manikpuri, subsequently producing them before the court for judicial remand. Authorities are probing whether the accused targeted other vulnerable individuals using similar superstitious pretexts.
SSP Appeals to Citizens to Shun Superstition
In the wake of this distressing event, SSP Shashi Mohan Singh issued a stern public appeal urging citizens to stay away from occult practitioners, faith healers, and fraudulent ritualists. He emphasized that medical treatments for illnesses should exclusively be sought from qualified doctors, and individuals must remain vigilant against those demanding money to solve personal or marital problems. The senior official urged anyone facing similar exploitation or fraud to immediately report the matter to the police, ensuring that superstition is never allowed to compromise personal safety and dignity.
