Occulist held for molesting woman

A 68-year-old occultist was arrested today for allegedly molesting a 19-year-old woman on the pretext of performing black magic to help her deliver a male child, the police said today.

The woman's in-laws, who took her to the practicioner multiple times, were also arrested for allegedly pressuring her for a male child.They had allegedly demanded Rs 10 lakh from her as "punishment" after she ultimately gave birth to a girl, a release from the Hyderabad Police said.

The accused have been identified as Mohd Sadiq, his wife Samina Sultana and Shaik Abdul Raheem alias Bhai Miya."During the alleged black magic process, Raheem molested her by touching her private parts and gave her some oil to apply on her



stomach and medicine saying the foetus will convert to a male child and collected Rs 20,000," the police said.

On one occassion when she refused to meet the practicioner, her father-in-law allegedly slammed her against a wall.After her marriage in August last year, the woman's family had paid Rs 5 lakh as dowry, police said.

The woman lodged a complaint with Charminar Police after receiving a divorce notice from her husband Mohd Mansoor. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Drug and Black Magic Remedies Act and IPC sections pertaining to cheating, assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty, and criminal intimidation, the police said.