Thane: Self-Styled Godman's Sex Racket Exposed, Seven Arrested

Seven individuals, including a self-proclaimed godman, have been arrested in Maharashtra's Thane for operating a sex racket in the guise of rituals to make their followers wealthy. Thane Crime Branch officials told the media that Yusuf Baba's crimes came to light when a 15-year-old girl went missing from Rabodi and a kidnapping case was registered. The probe led to the arrest of two persons, identified as Aslam Khan and Salim Shaikh, on February 25, who told police about the main accused Saheblal Wazir Shaikh alias Yusuf Baba, who was held sometime later.

“Our probe found that Yusuf Baba and his associates lured financially vulnerable women by promising them riches through black magic. Some of the rituals included the participation of women in the nude,” the Thane Crime Branch official said. He added that incriminating evidence of these "rituals" was recovered from the mobile phones of the accused.

'Godman' Promises To Rain Money In Exchange For Sexual Favours

Yusuf Baba and his gang, including two women members, reportedly trapped at least 17 women and girls in their sex racket under the pretext of making them rich. A case of kidnapping, rape, cheating and other offences under IPC has been registered with Rabodi police station, Thane, and further probe into this racket is underway.

The accused have also been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act 2013, the official informed.

Parallel Case: Supreme Court Denies Plea Of Asaram Bapu Charged For Raping Minor

Asaram Bapu, the self-proclaimed godman who is serving life imprisonment for the rape of a minor girl in 2013, filed a plea seeking suspension of the sentence. He approached the Supreme Court of India that due to his deteriorating health, he wanted the sentence to be suspended. According to senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Asaram suffered multiple heart attacks and suffers from anaemia with gastrointestinal bleeding, besides other age-related ailments.

However, the two-judge bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta dismissed his plea on March 1. The SC asked Asaram to submit an application before the Rajasthan High Court seeking permission for treatment at Madhavbaug Heart Hospital and it would be considered in accordance with the law. Justice Khanna also flagged “deliberate attempts” by Asaram to delay the hearing of his appeal before the high court against his conviction and sentence in the case.