Police in Chhattisgarh have arrested a Madhya Pradesh resident for allegedly cheating a Bhilai woman of nearly ₹85 lakh by exploiting her faith through claims of occult rituals and later luring her with promises of high returns from share trading and fake job opportunities.

The accused, identified as Pawan Badhoriya, a native of Jabalpur who was later living in Indore, was arrested from Indore by a Bhilai police team. He has been sent to judicial custody while investigators examine his bank accounts, financial transactions and the possible involvement of other people in the fraud.

According to police, the case was registered at Bhilai Nagar Police Station following a complaint filed by Sangeeta Kashyap around two weeks ago.

Acquaintance Turned into Fraud

Police said the woman first met the accused during a family function in Raipur in 2023. During their conversation, she reportedly shared details of personal and family problems.

The accused allegedly claimed that he possessed spiritual powers and could resolve her family's difficulties through religious rituals and occult practices. After gaining her confidence, he remained in regular contact and repeatedly demanded money for special prayers, rituals and ceremonies. Trusting his claims, the woman transferred money to him in multiple instalments.

Fear of Evil Spirits Used to Extract Money

According to the complaint, the accused repeatedly warned the woman that her family was under the influence of evil spirits and supernatural forces. He allegedly claimed that unless expensive rituals were performed on time, serious harm would come to the family.

Investigators said he also convinced her to arrange secret rituals and maintain continuous religious ceremonies, including lighting lamps for 43 days, to strengthen her belief and justify repeated financial demands.

Prediction of Husband's Accident

The woman alleged that the accused warned her that her husband could meet with a serious road accident if a special ritual was not performed. He allegedly collected around ₹1.5 lakh for the ceremony.

Some time later, her husband died in a road accident. Police said the accused allegedly continued exploiting her grief by demanding more money even during the period of medical treatment. He reportedly used various excuses, including claiming that his parents were critically ill or had died, and at one point even claimed he had been arrested by police and urgently needed money for his release.

Trading Profits and Fake Job Promises

Police said the accused later expanded the fraud by targeting the woman's son. He allegedly persuaded the family to invest in share market and online trading, promising exceptionally high returns and claiming to have connections with major investors.

The family transferred substantial amounts into his bank accounts but received neither profits nor refunds.

Investigators also alleged that he later promised to secure a government job, produced fake appointment documents and collected additional money on that pretext. In one instance, he allegedly called the complainant to Bhopal, where he accepted ₹4 lakh in cash.

Threats and Emotional Pressure

When the woman began demanding her money back, the accused allegedly resorted to intimidation and emotional manipulation.

According to the complaint, he sent a WhatsApp photograph showing injuries to his wrist in an apparent attempt to pressure the family into abandoning their demands. Police also said he threatened to implicate the woman and her son in false criminal cases and warned that hired goons would harm them if they continued asking for repayment.

Investigation Underway

After registering the case, Bhilai police tracked the accused to Indore with assistance from the local police and arrested him. Officials have seized his mobile phone linked to bank accounts, along with identification documents.

Bhilai Nagar CSP Satyaprakash Tiwari said investigators are analysing the accused's bank transactions and examining whether additional victims or accomplices are connected to the alleged fraud.