A shocking case of fraud has emerged from Viramgam, a town in Ahmedabad district. A woman, who claimed to be a tantric, deceived a local businessman out of 67 lakhs (approximately £66,000) by promising to perform rituals that would protect his shop from threats and reveal hidden wealth. The victim, Dineshbhai Sheth, a 62-year-old man who runs a snack shop, fell for the scam after being introduced to the woman by a relative.
In September 2014, Dineshbhai visited a relative who took him to meet Komal Rathod, the alleged tantric. She presented herself as someone who could solve his problems. She told Dineshbhai to return after a week for further guidance, which led him to trust her. During their meeting, Dineshbhai expressed concerns about pressure on his current shop, fearing it might close down. Rathod assured him that large amounts of money were hidden beneath his new shop.
To gain Dineshbhai’s trust, she told him that she needed gold jewellery for the rituals. He was instructed to give her a note detailing the jewellery needed. Additionally, she claimed that she required one lakh (about £1,000) immediately. Over the next month, Dineshbhai brought jewellery worth three lakhs (around £3,000) to her.
Rathod manipulated Dineshbhai further by saying that a loan for the new shop was not being sanctioned and that he would need to return the shop. She promised he could retrieve the hidden wealth through her rituals. Dineshbhai was told to break the flooring of his bedroom to perform the rituals, which she claimed would reveal hidden treasures on a specific date.
The rituals began, but Rathod warned him that opening the room before completion would bring disaster. She continued to demand more money, claiming that the rituals required additional jewellery. Dineshbhai became increasingly suspicious but was still fearful of the supposed consequences of discontinuing the rituals.
After paying a total of 67 lakhs, he inspected the bedroom and found only a worthless piece of cloth, not the promised treasures. Realising he had been scammed, he reported the matter to the Viramgam police station. The police have since registered a case against Komal Rathod and are currently investigating the incident.
This case highlights the dangers of fraudulent practices and the importance of awareness about such scams. Authorities urge people to be cautious and to report similar incidents immediately to prevent further victimisation. The police are working hard to track down Rathod and hold her accountable for her actions.
Dineshbhai’s trust was exploited, and he is not alone in this experience. Many individuals have fallen prey to fraudulent practices disguised as spiritual or ritualistic guidance. It’s vital for the community to stay informed and vigilant.