**Cleric and Family Booked for Cheating Man of Rs 3.10 Crore over Black Magic Pretext in Navi Mumbai**
*Navi Mumbai:* Nerul police have registered a case against a cleric and five members of his family for allegedly cheating a 22-year-old man of Rs 3.10 crore. The fraud was committed under the pretext of removing the impact of black magic from the family and curing the victim’s ailing mother.
The accused face charges of cheating, criminal intimidation, and violations under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act, 2013.
### Introduction to the Cleric and Victim
The victim, Tejas Ghodekar, a resident of Darave village, was introduced in 2019 to cleric Mustafa Shaikh, also known as Kamble, associated with the Seawoods-Darave dargah. Shaikh’s daughter, Safeena, allegedly convinced Ghodekar that his mother’s illness was caused by black magic performed by relatives and initially took Rs 50,000 for rituals.
Later, Shaikh’s son, Ahad, reportedly contacted Ghodekar multiple times, assuring him that special rituals in Kashmir, animal sacrifices, and celestial powers would cure his mother’s illness.
### Payments and Threats
Over a period of four years, the victim paid a total of Rs 3.10 crore to the accused. However, when no improvement was seen in his mother’s health, Ghodekar demanded the money back in December 2024. The accused returned only Rs 19 lakh and allegedly threatened him with severe consequences if he pursued a refund.
A police officer from Nerul police station stated, “The accused made the victim believe his mother could be saved through their powers, which gained his trust. When he asked for his money back, they threatened to destroy his family.”
### Coercion and Filing of FIR
The accused reportedly forced Ghodekar to sign blank stamp papers and threatened to hack his phone. Following his complaint, cleric Mustafa Shaikh, his son Ahad Shaikh, daughter Safeena Nanu Shaikh, son-in-law Nanu Shaikh, Wasim Shaikh, and his father Rafiq Shaikh have been booked.
An FIR has been registered under sections pertaining to cheating, intimidation, and the anti-superstition law. Further investigation is currently underway.
### Further Information
For more details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and surrounding areas, visit: [https://budgetproperties.in/](https://budgetproperties.in/)
—
*Stay tuned for updates on this case as the investigation progresses.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/navi-mumbai-crime-cleric-and-family-booked-for-cheating-22-year-old-man-of-310-crore-under-black-magic-pretext
