A shocking case has come to light from Mumbai where a so-called ‘Baba’ has been exposed for influencing people in the name of superstition and Tantric rituals. Mumbai’s Dandoshi police station has arrested a man named Ridham Panchal (37), who claimed to be a charismatic worker and could solve people’s problems.

It is alleged that the Baba performed strange and terrifying Tantric rituals using cremation ashes, goat liver, lemon, incense sticks and kumkum (sindoor). He used to create a mysterious atmosphere for people. After the puja, he would ask them to tie all the items in a red cloth and keep them at a deserted intersection, which would create both fear and belief among people.

The most shocking thing is that during the puja, the Baba used to claim that a “goddess” would appear. In this alleged state, he would offer solutions to people’s problems, gradually developing a “charismatic image”, and a large number of people started contacting him with their problems. This continued for about six months, but the baba’s activities started disturbing the locals. Suspicious activities at night, strange things, and increasing crowds worried the locals. Finally, the neighbors got the courage and filed a complaint with the police. On receiving the complaint, the Mumbai Police swung into action and started an investigation. Investigation revealed that the baba was exploiting people’s emotions and problems to spread superstition. After his arrest, the accused was produced in the court from where he was remanded in police custody till April 19. The police are now investigating who else is involved in this whole matter and how many people this so-called baba has trapped. This case once again brings to light the spread of superstition in the society and its dangerous effects. Where people rely on false miracles instead of science and law to solve their problems.

In a major development in the shooting incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Mumbai’s Juhu, Mumbai Police has arrested the 15th accused in the case. The accused has been identified as Pradeep Kumar, a shooter associated with the Shubham Lonkar gang, the mastermind and wanted in connection with the shooting outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence. He was arrested from Agra in a joint operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) and the Mumbai Crime Branch. According to investigators, the recently arrested accused Golu Pandit, who allegedly recruited the shooters, had received funds through an illegal hawala network. The money was allegedly sent via Nepal, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh before being used to commit the crime. The arrest of Pradeep Kumar has been confirmed by the Mumbai Crime Branch. He was the one who helped the other shooters in the Rohit Shetty shooting and identified the crime scene. The operation was carried out by Joint Police Commissioner Crime Lakshmi Gautam and DCP Raj Tilak Roshan on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The case is being investigated by the Anti-Money Laundering Squad. So far, 15 accused of the Bishnoi gang have been arrested. All of them were in contact with Shubham Lonkar and used to take instructions from him.

Nashik: The controversy surrounding alleged religious coercion at the Nashik office of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has intensified, with the father of one of the accused strongly denying all charges, even as serious allegations by employees continue to surface.

Bilal Fakir Mohammad Attar, father of the accused Tausif Attar, has claimed that his son has been falsely implicated in a pre-planned manner. “We are well-educated. I am a graduate, and my son has completed his BCA. Whatever is happening is wrong. It is not the fault of my son or any other child. All allegations against them are false,” he said, defending his son amid mounting scrutiny.

Meanwhile, allegations of religious coercion have emerged as the central issue in the case. A male employee has alleged that staff were forced to wear skullcaps, recite the Kalma and offer namaz as part of a pattern of workplace harassment. The complainant, who worked under Taushif Attar and Danish Sheikh, claimed that refusal to comply often resulted in intimidation, isolation, and excessive workload.

Describing his ordeal, the employee alleged a deeply hostile work environment where personal boundaries were routinely violated. he claimed that senior officials mocked employees’ personal lives. In a particularly disturbing allegation, he said he was asked to ‘send his wife’ to management while the couple was undergoing fertility treatment.

The case has widened with multiple complaints, including from women employees who alleged they were pressured to observe fasts during Ramzan, cover their heads, and, in some instances, were subjected to sexual exploitation. The complaints indicate that the accused group allegedly targeted young women employees between 18 and 25 years of age.

Police have so far registered at least nine FIRs in connection with the case, including one by a male employee citing religious harassment and attempted conversion. The FIRs detail allegations such as verbal abuse, coercion to consume non-vegetarian food, and insults directed at religious beliefs.

Eight individuals have been arrested so far, including Danish Sheikh, Tausif Attar, Raza Memon, Shahrukh Qureshi, Shafi Sheikh, Asif Aftab Ansar and Shahrukh Sheikh, along with one woman. Investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct and determine accountability.