Fake godman dupes Bagalgunte woman of 43 grams of gold and Rs 1.3 lakh
A self-styled godman allegedly defrauded a 37-year-old woman of 43 grams of gold jewellery and Rs 1.3 lakh in cash at her residence in Bengaluru's Bagalgunte area on June 26. The accused, identified as Shivakali alias Nithin, reportedly committed the theft under the guise of performing a special ritual to resolve the marital issues of the victim's younger daughter.
The victim, Geeta, was introduced to the accused through a neighbour who claimed that Shivakali possessed spiritual powers that could resolve domestic disputes. Shivakali told Geeta that her daughter was under a life-threatening spell and offered to perform a special Friday ritual to remove the danger. He instructed her to ensure no one else was present in the house during the prayers.
According to the police, Shivakali arrived at Geeta's residence in Bagalgunte at approximately 4:00 PM on June 26. He began conducting the ritual using lemons, ash, turmeric, and fenugreek seeds while chanting mantras. During the ceremony, he directed Geeta to gather all the gold ornaments and cash in the house to ensure her daughter's well-being.
Geeta placed 43 grams of gold jewellery, including chains, bangles, and rings, along with Rs 1.3 lakh in cash meant for home renovations, inside a cloth bundle. The accused then threw ashes at her from a bag, bent her head, and hit her on the back, causing her to lose consciousness.
When Geeta regained consciousness 30 minutes later, the accused had fled, and the valuables were missing. Later that day, she spotted him near Arunodaya Hospital and confronted him. Shivakali claimed the valuables were tied inside a cloth bundle at her house and warned her not to open it for two days, claiming she would "vomit blood and die" if she did.
Fearing the warning, Geeta did not open the bundle immediately. When she finally untied it two days later, she discovered only tamarind inside. Her attempts to contact the accused failed as his mobile phone was switched off.
The Bagalgunte police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Shivakali alias Nithin on charges of cheating. Police officers stated that efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the accused.
