‘Black Magic’ Ruse: Pune Contractor Duped of Rs 45,000; Five Booked
Pune, 12th September 2026: A construction contractor was allegedly duped of Rs 45,000 by a woman who claimed she could resolve his family problems and warned him of an impending death, police said. The incident was reported from the Bibwewadi area.
A case has been registered against five people, including alleged faith healer Monali Vidhate, under charges of cheating and provisions of the Maharashtra Black Magic and Human Sacrifice Prevention Act.
The accused have been identified as Monali Vidhate and her husband Krishna Vidhate, both residents of Katraj, Monali’s brother Mayur, Ashok Bankar and Manju Kaur.
The complainant, a construction contractor from the Tembhurni area of Solapur district, came in contact with Monali Vidhate in December 2025. She allegedly told him that his family was facing problems and sent him turmeric-kumkum, a doll and a thread as part of a purported ritual.
He was later called to her house in Bibwewadi. According to the complaint, Vidhate told him that an ‘utara’ (ritual to ward off an alleged evil influence) had to be performed to remove the problems. She allegedly collected a total of Rs 45,000 from him on different occasions on this pretext.
Police are investigating the allegations and the role of the other accused in the alleged fraud.
