Victim alleges stalking and defamation
There have been several instances of 'baba's' and 'tantriks' using the practice of black magic to influence people with claims of having 'cured' or solved the problems of many. But in a first of it's kind case, a 'baba' has been accused of trespassing, violence and house grabbing.
Rita Mallick, who accuses the 'baba' Shamim Raza, of forceful occupation of her house, says that although she is the owner, he has entered her house on multiple occasions and locked it from inside, refusing to leave. “He even prepared duplicate papers of my house (ownership is in her name) to show that he is the owner, even as I have been residing here since the past 13 years,” says the distraught wife. She accuses a certain real estate agent, Javed of preparing the illegal documents in exchange for Rs 50,000. However, in another bizarre twist, her husband Lallan, Javed and Raza allege that she acted in connivance.
The 47-year-old prime accused was known to Lallan as they all reside in the same Kachbala Society Compound in Andheri East's MIDC area.
Superstitious practices leading to havoc?
Since the 33-year-old husband was friends with Raza for quite some time (the 'baba' regularly visited the couple's house), he began by influencing him saying Rita must visit him and that he could help sort out problems in their life. Refusing to fall for this, there was always a lot of disagreement and infighting between the couple as Rita was against all of this and thought it unbelievable. After a point, the interference by Raza become very intrusive and it drove a wedge between the couple, according to Rita.
“My husband would blindly believe him. He would just not believe me,” says the 29-year-old aggrieved housewife who claims her husband leaving and going away was also because of Raza's influence.
She blames his black magic as a reason for the upheaval caused in her life and also accuses him of stalking, spreading rumours to malign her image and torture, making Lallan name her as one of the accomplices.
Lallan is now in Kolkata (he hails from there) and has also taken their 9-year-old daughter along.
The harrowed beautician who runs a women's parlour says, “He has gone leaving behind several debts for me. I had to mortgage the car I bought from my money and the 1.5 lakhs I got through the sale also was paid to Lallan. He kept demanding money and citing reasons such as payment of our daughter's school fees. I want to talk to my daughter but he refuses to let her even come on the phone.”
The prime accused Raza, who is also known as 'Bhondu Baba', tells her that her husband owed him 12 lakhs, which she is totally unaware of.
Police inaction?
Having registered a complaint with the MIDC police station, she has also submitted a letter to them describing the series of events that took place, requesting action against the erring Imam (he recites Namaaz at a local mosque).
DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Zone X N.D. Reddy had even assured her that a (First Information Report) FIR would be filed. But unfortunately that hasn't happened either.
“He was even summoned to the police station once, but was let off after he paid some money. He keeps telling me that he paid Rs 80,000 to secure his bail, which he will recover from me. He uses foul language and cuss words in my absence, which the society members tell me about later. I always see him loitering outside my house. He is spreading rumors about me and damaging my reputation. Thankfully no one believes him because the residents know him too well. I was called a bar dancer and much more worse things. I live alone so he harasses me and thinks I will get scared,” says an adamant Rita.
Baba claims innocence
Claiming to be innocent, Raza had an entirely different version to present as he accuses the couple of committing frauds and failing to return people the money they borrowed from them.
“Since six months I am being harassed by the police and have been made to run around. The truth is that her husband made those papers in my name. That is the reason I have given that (Rita's) flat on rent. I can show you with proof of the Power of Attorney that clearly states my name. They are cheaters and several others, like me, have been conned. There is a case in court too. If she is right then she should call her husband back from the village,” says the Imam, rubbishing the claims made against him.
While he may plead not guilty, neighbours side with the troubled woman.
Rukhsana, a neighbour and a witness to the whole episode vouches for the authentic version of Rita's story. “He has intimidated her in my presence too. Not only Rita, but I too have faced threats from him because I am helping her. In fact, he does it all the time. I have been called a goon and in the past he has even resorted to violence against me, telling my father to inform me to stay out of this or I will have to face consequences too, including disappearance.”
“I was surrounded by four people including him, who badly beat me up and tore my clothes. Even this matter was reported and he was called to the police station. However no action was taken,” alleges Rukhsana.
NGO to help get justice?
“I just want this pained woman to get justice and want the police to take the strictest possible action against this 'baba', who uses black magic to entrap unsuspecting and naïve people in his net. People must be freed from falling for these superstitious practices. This man also cast a spell on her husband and scared him away,” says Raja Bhau Sheth, Founder and President of NGO Anyay Nivaran Nirmolan Seva Samiti, which is helping her pursue the legal route.