Snake charmer arrested, police action in Rs 1.5 lakh fraud case
Kanker. A case of cheating a woman of Rs 1.5 lakh has come to light after she was duped with the promise of sorcery and amulets. The police took prompt action and arrested two accused, presented them in the court and sent both on judicial remand.
According to the information, applicant Panchami Chakradhari (38 years), a resident of Babu Salhetola in the Kanker police station area, had filed a written complaint of cheating at the Kanker police station on January 12, 2026. In the complaint, it was stated that Shabir Khan, who calls himself a snake charmer, and his partner Afsar Khan had come to her house and claimed that her daughter Samrika Chakradhari was suffering from witchcraft. The accused, under the pretense of treating the patient with exorcism, rituals, and amulets, took Rs. 5,000 for 21 liters of oil, coconut, incense sticks, lemons, etc. in the name of puja materials. After this, the accused demanded a total amount of Rs. 1,50,000 by taking Rs. 45,000 each in three different installments and Rs. 5,000 in the name of goat sacrifice. Realizing that the victim had been cheated when there was no benefit despite repeated demands for treatment, she filed a complaint with the police. Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Kanker police station. During the investigation, the police took prompt action and arrested both the accused on January 13, 2026. The arrested accused include Shabbir Khan, father Ghaffar Khan, age 30 years, resident of Dharsiwa Raipur and Afsar Khan, father Hanif Khan, age 25 years, resident of Dharsiwa Raipur.
