Self-proclaimed godman arrested for trying to ‘sacrifice’ 9-year-old nephew

Thane: A 40-year-old self-proclaimed godman has been arrested by the Vartak Nagar Police in Thane city for physically assaulting his nine-year-old nephew and attempting to offer him as a “sacrifice”

Thane: A 40-year-old self-proclaimed godman has been arrested by the Vartak Nagar Police in Thane city for physically assaulting his nine-year-old nephew and attempting to offer him as a “sacrifice”.

The godman, identified as Kuldip Nikam, was subsequently arrested by the police. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Godman claimed that the boy was possessed by an evil spirit and must be offered as a sacrifice. The man claimed that the boy will turn out to be a criminal in future.

His sister, who is also a complainant, filed a case against him.

The godman, identified as Kuldip Nikam, was subsequently arrested by the police. Nikam, along with his two aides Sneha Shinde and Kishore Navale, has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and Anti Superstition and Black Magic Act.

According to police officials, Nikam’s sister Priyanka Shelke, 31, came to stay with him after she separated from her husband. “Nikam would regularly hint that her son is dangerous and should be kept away from them. He alleged that the boy will turn into a murderer and sexual assaulter in future,” officials said.

Shelke in her complaint said, “Nikam worked in a religious organisation for a few years. After he lost his job in marketing, he started consulting people who wanted to practise black magic. He charged a lot of money to rid people of their problems.”

“My brother would target my son and ask me to keep him away from me, however, I brought him back to stay with him. When I went out for work, he and Shinde, who was also his girlfriend, would physically assault my son and beat him with sticks on his private parts. They would also lock him in the bathroom,” Shelke said, adding that she later started living separately.

An officer from Vartak Nagar Police station said that the accused told Shelke that he will have to offer the boy as a sacrifice to save the others around him from evil and for their better future.

“She immediately approached the police station and filed an FIR under IPC section 506 (2), 504 and section 3 of Anti Superstition and Black Magic Act, Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013,” the official added.