A disturbing case of superstition-driven exploitation has surfaced in Virar, where police have arrested a 21-year-old blind man for allegedly posing as an exorcist and raping a 17-year-old student three times in a single day under the pretext of removing an evil spirit from her body.

According to police sources, the accused, Prem Patil, allegedly convinced the victim that “four demons” resided in her body, claiming they could kill her future husband and prevent her from having children. He warned her never to disclose the matter to anyone and insisted that an elaborate ritual involving sexual intercourse 11 times was necessary to expel the “evil spirits.” With the help of his friend, Karan Patil, the accused booked a room in a lodge near Rajodi Beach, where he allegedly raped the victim three times under the guise of performing the ritual.

Police stated that the incident occurred last month, but the victim gathered the courage to file a complaint on Friday. “The accused exploited the girl’s fear and innocence, using claims of witchcraft to commit this heinous crime,” a Virar police officer said. Based on the victim’s complaint, the police have registered a case under Sections 137(2), 64, and 64(2) of the BNS, along with provisions of the POCSO Act and Sections 1 and 49 of the Maharashtra Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Indecent and Unholy Practices and Witchcraft Act, 2013. The accused duo, Prem Patil and Karan Patil, have been arrested by the police.

Prem Patil raped the victim three times under the guise of performing the ritual. Representation pic/istock

The victim, a 17-year-old Std  XI student residing with her parents in Virar, reportedly suffers from a mental illness. Her family claimed she has been “possessed by a ghost” for the past four years. A friend of the victim introduced her to Prem Patil, who claimed to have the ability to exorcise spirits. Upon meeting him in July, the victim learned that Patil was blind from birth. After hearing her story, Patil allegedly told her that four spirits were preventing her from marrying or having children and warned that her husband would die if she married. He claimed a ritual could remove the spirits but insisted she follow his instructions completely and keep the matter confidential.

Patil informed the victim that the ritual required sexual intercourse 11 times. Initially, she refused, but fearing for her future, she eventually agreed and met Patil on July 30. As Patil was blind, Karan Patil assisted by transporting them on his motorcycle to a lodge near Rajodi Beach. Prem Patil booked a room while Karan waited outside. Inside, Patil allegedly raped her three times. He told her that the ritual would need to be repeated eight more times to fully expel the spirits and assured her the remaining sessions would occur later.

Disturbed by the ordeal, the victim confided in a friend, who informed her it was a deception and urged her to tell her family. The friend also spoke to the victim’s parents, prompting her father to approach the Virar police station on Friday, where the victim filed a complaint. Prem Patil has received education for the visually impaired and is proficient in modern technology. He is reportedly well-versed in puja and tantra-mantra rituals, earning the trust of some devotees and making a living through these practices.

The accused duo is currently in police custody. Investigators are exploring whether the accused used similar “black magic” ploys to target other women. “We appeal to anyone who may have been approached by the accused under such pretences to come forward,” an officer added.

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