City Reports

Man duped girls by advertising ‘witchcraft services’ on social media, arrested

Prakash had created a fake social media profile on Facebook posing as a girl. In his profile, he would identify himself as Paridhi. He used to befriend the girls using this profile. He would tell these that Prakash (himself) was her fiancé.

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May 17, 2018, 9:32 pm

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Jaipur: Two days after a man, identified as Prakash Balani, was arrested by SOG for raping a girl and her mother after scaring them in the name of their impending death allegedly advertised his ‘witchcraft services’ on social media channels to cast his net on gullible women. He had duped many families in Jaipur and other cities.

Sources in Rajasthan special operations group (SOG) said that Prakash had created a fake social media profile on Facebook posing as a girl. In his profile, he would identify himself as Paridhi. He used to befriend the girls using this profile. He would tell these that Prakash (himself) was her fiancé.

“The girls thought that they were chatting with someone called Paridhi who would tactfully introduce them to her fiancé Prakash Balani. ‘Paridhi’ would tell them that he was a great tantric and could help them get rid of misfortune,” said an SOG officer.

A girl who was trying her luck at modelling came in contact with ‘Paridhi’ on social media. The girl told her that two youths had sexually harassed her and blackmailed her in the name of giving her a break in the modelling industry.

“As per the modus operandi, Prakash using the profile of Paridhi told the girl he could help her resolve the problem with witchcraft,” said the officer.

The accused then started threatening the girl and her mother of their impending deaths. He allegedly raped them at different times and duped them of jewellery and cash worth Rs 2 crore.

First published: May 14, 2018