The police in Maharashtra's Latur district have arrested two more persons in connection with an alleged occultist "money rain" ritual, taking the total number of persons in custody in the case to 15. (Representational Image)

Latur: Police in Maharashtra's Latur district have arrested two more persons in connection with an alleged occultist "money rain" ritual, taking the total number of persons in custody in the case to 15, officials have said.

According to police, the accused allegedly conspired to conduct a Lakshmi puja as part of a ritual based on the superstition that money could be made to appear through occult practices. During the alleged ritual, an attempt was made to involve a 15-year-old girl.

After receiving information about the suspicious activity, Udgir Rural Police intervened and arrested 13 persons from various states, officials had said earlier.
Two more persons, identified as Balaraj, alias Balaji Eastya Mangali (38) from Telangana and Karnataka resident Mallesh Timmanna Wadger (40), were taken into custody on August 19, they said.
The incident occurred near Karadkhel Pati on the Latur-Udgir road, around 20 km from Udgir, in the early hours of August 16.
The case has been registered at Udgir Rural police station under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
A court has remanded the accused to police custody till August 21. An investigation is underway to understand the circumstances under which the minor girl was allegedly brought into or sought to be involved in the ritual, as well as the roles played by the individual accused, police said.


Tags: