Bhiwandi Cleric Arrested for Sexual Assault and Blackmail at Faith Healing Shrine

Bhiwandi City police have arrested a 50-year-old cleric, Maulana Ismail, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman on the pretext of treating her illness through faith healing rituals at a shrine near Varala Devi Talao in Bhiwandi. The accused was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody until August 18.

The complainant, a resident of Nehru Nagar near Hanuman Temple who works as an assistant at a private clinic, lodged a formal complaint on the night of August 11. According to investigators, the victim came into contact with Ismail after he claimed he could cure her illness through spiritual treatments and rituals.

Police stated that the alleged incidents took place between June 9, 2024, and August 10, 2026. During this period, the cleric repeatedly summoned the woman to the shrine near Varala Devi Talao. On her first visit, Ismail performed a ritual where he opened her tied hair, placed a lemon in her hand, recited prayers, and then cut and discarded the lemon. Around 15 days later, he called her back to the shrine under the pretext of another healing session and allegedly sexually assaulted her against her will.

Following the incident, Ismail allegedly contacted the woman by phone and claimed that he had recorded the assault on his mobile phone. He threatened to circulate the video to blackmail her, stating that the recording was with a person named Irfan.

Police have registered a case against Ismail and an unidentified person under Sections 64(2), 74, and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additional charges have been invoked under Section 3 of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, as well as Sections 66E and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Police Inspector Dnyaneshwar Kadam and Police Inspector Vinod Patil are conducting the investigation. Police Inspector Vinod Patil confirmed the arrest and stated that officers are currently questioning Ismail while attempting to trace the unidentified suspect involved in possessing or circulating the purported video. Investigators are also probing whether the accused targeted other women using similar methods.