The Ghaziabad Police has arrested eight members of a gang of cheats who used to dupe people by promising to solve all their problems by using tantra (sorcery). Police also nabbed two of their cohorts who lured innocent people for good results through tantra and cheated a large amount of money. The gang used to advertise in newspapers to entice people into their net, said Superintendent of Police (SP) City Akash Tomar.
The police recovered Rs 6,72,300 in cash from their possession. They were arrested from GDA quarters in Arthala locality under Sahibabad police station on Thursday, the SP said.
Investigation has found that the gang members were involved in conning people by promising to cure all their hardships and were active in Sahibabad area for quite some time. Police had received complaints about being cheated by tantriks dressed in saffron clothes and they used to show as if they were bestowed by some divine power, the SP said.
A complaint was registered against them in the past for their illegal practice under sections 420, 467 and other relevant sections of IPC. The police were looking for them. They ran out of luck as police traced out their locations and arrested from their hide out in Arthala, Tomar added.
During sustained interrogation they revealed their names as Irshad, Dilshad, Shahrukh, Nasir, Asif, Nasiruddin, Shahrukh and Arif. Police arrested two of their advertisers who propagated about their magical powers results. Jaivir and Sheetala Prasad told the police that used to do for a consideration. Police also recovered Rs 6,72,300 from their possession which they had amassed by cheating the public.
“They were cheating the public since long that too under the garb of performing rituals by donning saffron robes. Further investigation is going on”, the SP City added.