Tantrik arrested for ritual fold fraud, three cases registered

In a crackdown on ritual-based fraud, Mandal Police have arrested a self-proclaimed tantrik, Chandrakantbhai Kantibhai Panchal, for allegedly duping multiple victims by convincing them to deposit their gold jewellery during fake rituals, only to later pawn the valuables at finance companies and jewellery shops.

Chandrakant Panchal, a resident of Gota in Ahmedabad and originally from Kamalpur village in Patan district, was arrested in connection with a robbery case registered at Mandal Police Station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The crime, which took place on 19 May, involved the fraudulent acquisition of gold ornaments from victims under the guise of religious rituals.

According to the police, Panchal used to pose as a tantrik or spiritual healer—commonly referred to as a Bhuwaji—and would gain the trust of vulnerable individuals, particularly women, promising to resolve family disputes or improve a relative’s mental or physical health through ritual practices. Victims were persuaded to bring gold jewellery as a symbolic offering, which Panchal would wrap in a cloth and seal inside a box, instructing them not to open it for 21 days for the ritual to be effective.

During this period, Panchal would secretly replace the jewellery with worthless items and pawn the original ornaments at outlets like Muthoot Finance in Gota or Ambika Jewellers in Chandlodia.

Mandal Police, under the supervision of Police Inspector V R Desai, successfully traced and apprehended Panchal following an intensive investigation. Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to similar crimes committed in the jurisdictions of the Sola High Court and the Ghatlodia Police Station in Ahmedabad city.

Additional Offences Detected:

1. Sola High Court Police Station total fraud: ₹13 lakh

2. Ghatlodia Police Station Total fraud: ₹15 lakh

In the Mandal case alone, jewellery worth ₹89,000 was reportedly stolen. Investigators have begun the process of recovering the stolen property, some of which has been traced to financial firms where Panchal pawned the jewellery for cash.

Police sources confirmed that more victims may come forward as news of Panchal’s arrest spreads. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when approached for rituals involving valuables, especially when carried out privately without any religious or institutional oversight. An appeal has been made to citizens who may have been similarly duped to report the matter to their nearest police station.