Pune: Pashan Area Shocked by Witchcraft Scandal, Police Launch Investigation

Pashan, 16th December 2023: A woman practicing black magic in the upscale area of Pashan under the guise of consultancy has been exposed by the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS), Pune police, and the victim in a sting operation.

Vrushali Dhole Shirasath, accused of fraudulent practices, targeted a young man struggling with depression and competitive exam stress. The victim was coerced into eschewing medication and subjected to bizarre rituals, including tying threads, fed ashes, and made to drink water after washing her feet. The woman, claiming supernatural abilities, frightened the youth by asserting that his body was possessed by spirits. The victim was defrauded of approximately one and a half lakh rupees and threatened with harm.

The accused, Vrushali Santosh Dhole Shirsath (39) of Pashan, along with her accomplices Maya Rahul Gajbhiye (45) of Vitthalnagar, Pashan, and Satish Chandrasekhar Verma (33) of Patilnagar in Bavdhan, have been booked by the Chatushringi Police Station based on a complaint lodged by a 23-year-old competitive exam aspirant from Pashan.

The FIR includes charges under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, along with Sections 420, 506 (2), and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Vishal Vimal, an MANS activist, came to know about the illicit activities in November and reported them to the police. A sting operation was orchestrated under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare of the Chatushrungi police station. Vimal, accompanied by the police team in plain clothes, visited the accused’s office, Gurudatta Consultancy in Mukta Residency, Pashan.

Receptionist Maya Gajbhiye and Satish Verma were seated in the outer room when Vimal was instructed to pay a consulting fee of Rs 1000. Subsequently, he was ushered into the inner room. Inside, Vrushali, without any inquiry, tied a ganda on Vimal’s hand and asked him to consume the ashes. He believed that the woman in question was deceiving people through black magic and sorcery. He alerted the police, who promptly arrived and conducted an official Panchnama. Various items associated with sorcery were seized during the process.

The complainant, a depressed youth struggling with exam failures, had sought treatment from Vrushali since September 2021 after responding to a social media advertisement. Exploiting his vulnerability, Vrushali falsely claimed that his body was possessed by spirits, convincing him to follow bizarre rituals. The victim, coerced under threat of death, was allegedly defrauded of Rs 1.5 lakh with promises of miraculous relief from depression and financial difficulties without medical treatment.

Police are further investigating the case.