Police in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district have cracked a gang that used fake claims of black magic and hypnotic spells to pull off house burglaries. The Baihar police station arrested 11 people in connection with a theft worth nearly Rs 5 lakh in Kholwa village, recovering Rs 1.90 lakh in cash from the accused so far, while questioning continues to trace the stolen jewellery.
How the Burglary Unfolded
The theft took place on July 10, when burglars broke the lock on the back door of Kamlesh Rahangdale's house in Kholwa and ransacked a cupboard, making off with cash, two mobile phones and jewellery worth around Rs 5 lakh in total. What stunned investigators was that six members of the family were sleeping in the very room where the burglary happened, yet none of them stirred.
The Investigation That Cracked the Case
Police scanned CCTV footage and enlisted the cyber cell's help, and their scrutiny led them to a woman named Shanti Tekam, who was taken into custody on suspicion. Her detention blew the lid off an elaborate gang that mixed technology with superstition. Investigators found that Sukhdev Meravi, a former driver who had once worked at the victim's house, had tipped off the gang about the large sum of cash kept there.
Who Made Up the Gang
The group also included a social media influencer, Pankaj Rawde, and a man who called himself a tantrik, Jitendra Bijewar. Jitendra had convinced the others that he could use lemon, coconut and occult rituals to keep the sleeping household under his spell so that nobody would wake up during the burglary. Trusting this claim, the entire gang set out for Kholwa to carry out the theft.
Arrests and What Happens Next
Police arrested all 11 accused, including the driver, the tantrik, the woman and the influencer, and booked them under sections of the BNS. Five of the accused have been sent to police remand so that the remaining stolen jewellery can be recovered.
Police Appeal to the Public
Police have made it clear that there is no such thing as real black magic or hypnotic control. They have urged people not to fall for such superstition or self-styled godmen, and to stay away from crime altogether.
