A 53-year-old self-styled godman has been arrested for duping people of cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees. The accused, identified as Aslam Parvez alias Sufi, engaged in cheating with the help of his daughter Sheeba and a property dealer identified as Shahid. Police have also recovered Rs 3 lakh cash and 72 gm of gold jewellery from his hideouts.
Mumtaz Begum had filed a complaint on October 19 at Hauz Qazi Police Station. According to her complaint, her husband had expired in April, 2012. She has a 13-year-old daughter. Sometime in June 2013, Sheeba contacted her and coaxed her to believe that her husband's soul was still trapped and roaming in her house and it could be fatal for her brother and daughter. Sheeba claimed that her father Aslam could rescue the soul. later, Aslam met the complainant at her house and asked her for Rs 5 lakh as fees for the solution. He also warned her not to disclose the matter as it could prove fatal for her daughter and brother. Begum handed over the money to him. A few days later he again demanded Rs 5 lakh and she gave the money to him again.
"In September, Aslam again demanded Rs 10 lakh as the so called soul had been controlled and it would require 'Niyaz'. Begum was frightened so she handed over original registered documents of her house and gold jewellery of her sisters to Aslam and Shahid," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Alok Kumar.
On the basis of these documents, Aslam and Shahid received Rs 2 lakh as advance on selling the house. later, the complainant disclosed the incident to her younger brother and sisters. They then demanded the original documents back from the duo. However, the duo had fled by then.