Thane: A 25-year-old woman from Thane was allegedly duped of over Rs 1.6 crore by a Mumbai-based man who claimed he could rid her family of ‘black magic’, police said on Thursday.According to the police, the complainant lodged an FIR on April 3, detailing a prolonged financial fraud that took place for two years from Jan 2024 to Jan 2026. The accused, a resident of Andheri, allegedly gained the woman’s trust by convincing her that her father and aunt were under the influence of a supernatural curse cast by a woman known to the family. Police said the accused frequently visited the complainant’s residence and spun an elaborate narrative around performing a special puja and allegedly persuaded the woman to part with Rs 1.6 crore, said a senior official. Investigators revealed that a portion of the money was routed through bank accounts belonging to the accused’s mother. Despite repeated assurances, no such rituals were carried out, and the accused continued to demand more money.
