Tantrik poses as healer, rapes woman in Chandrapur to cure husband's Grah Dosh; 3 held
Synopsis
A man posing as a temple-affiliated spiritual healer allegedly exploited a family's belief in Grah Dosh to rape a 27-year-old woman in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, after sending her husband out of the house on a puja-related errand. All three accused were arrested within days — but the case exposes how deeply entrenched superstition creates a predatory opening that law enforcement alone cannot close.
Key Takeaways
A 27-year-old woman in Chandrapur, Maharashtra , was allegedly raped on 30 August by a man posing as a spiritual healer.
The main accused, Shubham Latari Khangar, 26 , allegedly claimed affiliation with the Jagannath Maharaj Bhadrabhesh temple and exploited the family's belief in Grah Dosh .
Two associates — Sachin Modak and Tejas Walkate — were also arrested.
A case has been registered under Sections 64(1), 351(3), and 3(5) of the BNS ; all three accused are in police custody.
Investigation is being led by Bhisi Police Inspector Mangesh Bhogale under the supervision of Additional SP Ishwar Katakade .
A 27-year-old married woman in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, was allegedly raped on 30 August by a man who posed as a spiritual healer and claimed to be performing a ritual to cure her husband's recurring health problems attributed to Grah Dosh. Three accused have been arrested and are currently in police custody, according to Chandrapur Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katakade.
How the Assault Unfolded
The victim's husband had been suffering from persistent health issues, which the family believed were caused by Grah Dosh — an astrological condition in which planets are unfavourably placed or afflicted in a person's birth chart. Seeking a remedy, the family approached Shubham Latari Khangar, 26, who allegedly presented himself as a Maharaj associated with the Jagannath Maharaj Bhadrabhesh temple.
On 30 August, Khangar arrived at the woman's residence in the Bhisi police station area of Chimur tehsil, accompanied by two associates — Sachin Modak and Tejas Walkate. During the puja, the accused allegedly sent the husband outside on the pretext of fetching items needed for the ritual. Khangar then allegedly sexually assaulted the woman while she was alone.
Swift Police Action and Arrests
Bhisi Police acted promptly after receiving the woman's complaint, arresting all three accused. The case has been registered under Sections 64(1), 351(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigation is being conducted under Bhisi Police Inspector Mangesh Bhogale. All three men remain in police custody as the probe continues.
A Recurring Pattern of Superstition-Based Exploitation
This incident is part of a broader, documented pattern of fraudsters exploiting religious faith and astrological anxieties to gain access to vulnerable individuals, particularly women in households facing health or financial distress. Notably, cases of men posing as tantrics or spiritual healers to commit sexual assault have been reported across Maharashtra and other states in recent years.
This comes amid heightened scrutiny of superstition-based crimes in Maharashtra following a separate case in Palghar district, where a court on 8 August sentenced a man to death for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Dahanu taluka in 2021.
What Happens Next
Police are continuing their investigation into the Chandrapur case. The arrests of all three accused within days of the complaint signal active law enforcement, but the broader question of accountability for those who exploit superstition to commit crimes remains a pressing concern for authorities and civil society in Maharashtra.
Point of View
Astrological anxiety, and the absence of community-level awareness. Maharashtra has anti-superstition legislation on the books, yet cases of fraudsters posing as healers to assault women continue to surface with grim regularity. The speed of the arrests is commendable, but the systemic failure lies upstream: families in distress turning to unverified 'Maharajs' with no accountability structure. Until awareness campaigns and enforcement of the anti-superstition law reach the taluka level, the predatory template this accused used will be replicated.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Chandrapur tantrik rape case?
A man named Shubham Latari Khangar, posing as a spiritual healer, allegedly raped a 27-year-old married woman in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, on 30 August while pretending to perform a ritual to cure her husband's Grah Dosh. He sent the husband out of the house during the puja and assaulted the woman. Three accused have been arrested.
Who are the accused in the Chandrapur case?
The three arrested accused are Shubham Latari Khangar (26), the main accused who allegedly posed as a Maharaj, and his two associates Sachin Modak and Tejas Walkate. All three are currently in police custody.
What is Grah Dosh and why was it used as a pretext?
Grah Dosh is an astrological belief that unfavourably placed or afflicted planets in a person's birth chart cause health or life problems. The accused allegedly exploited the victim's family's belief in this concept to gain entry into their home under the guise of performing a remedial puja.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
Police have registered a case under Sections 64(1), 351(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigation is being conducted by Bhisi Police Inspector Mangesh Bhogale.
Is this an isolated incident of superstition-based assault in Maharashtra?
No. Such cases have been reported across Maharashtra and other states, where individuals posing as tantrics or spiritual healers exploit religious faith to commit crimes. A separate Palghar court case from 8 August 2024 — involving the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl — underscores the continued prevalence of such exploitation.
