The Hulimavu Police have successfully apprehended a 49-year-old man, Dadapeer, who had been posing as a ‘tantrik’ or spiritual practitioner. He stands accused of cunningly defrauding numerous individuals by promising to ‘ward off evil’ and ‘multiply their wealth’ through elaborate, fake rituals.
Dadapeer, originally from Kolar, was taken into custody in Bannerghatta while actively seeking new victims or attempting to offload the precious items he had already swindled.
Following his confession, authorities conducted a search of his Kolar residence, where they recovered a substantial 485.4 grams of gold, valued at an impressive ₹53 lakh. Investigations also revealed that he had already pawned a portion of the stolen gold at a jewelry shop in Nagpur.
Deputy Commissioner of Police M. Narayana, from the Electronics City division, detailed Dadapeer’s elaborate scheme. He would approach potential victims, convincing them that their homes were afflicted by ‘evil spells’ and offering his services to remove them, often with the added promise of magically increasing their prosperity.
To perform these ‘rituals,’ Dadapeer would instruct his targets to gather all their gold valuables. He would then meticulously place these precious items into a box right before their eyes, solemnly directing them to store the box unopened in their pooja (prayer) room for 21 days.
However, during the crucial moment of ‘packing,’ he would artfully distract his unsuspecting victims. In a swift, deceptive move, he would swap their valuable gold ornaments with mere pebbles and stones before making his getaway.
Dadapeer’s arrest has been a significant breakthrough, helping police solve at least four similar cheating cases. A police officer confirmed that further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of his criminal history and identify any other potential victims.