On March 20th, the Sambhal police in UP received a disturbing complaint: a young boy named Rajpal had been abducted by two men from his village under false pretenses. The abduction journey took him through multiple locations – first to Narora, then Etah, and eventually to Agra. There, Rajpal was subjected to sinister tantric rituals, and an attempt was made on his life. However, miraculously, Rajpal managed to escape and, fearing for his life, his family promptly reported the incident to the police.
An FIR was filed on March 21st, and the investigation began. What the police uncovered during their inquiry shocked everyone. What initially seemed like a simple kidnapping case was quickly revealed to be a deeply disturbing and twisted conspiracy. Beneath the surface, the case involved the exploitation of young girls under the guise of superstition.
The families of these girls had been manipulated with promises of unimaginable wealth, drawn into a web of deceit by fraudulent claims. The perpetrators spread a dangerous superstition, convincing the families that if a young, tall girl was “touched” by a tantric practitioner at a specific time and place, with the correct chants, a rain of riches – “Dhan-Varsha” (rain of wealth) – would occur.
As the investigation unfolded, the police arrested 14 people, including Raghubir Singh, a railway station master at the Yamuna Bridge station in Agra. This case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of blind superstition and the depths to which people will sink to exploit others’ hopes and fears.
Indian Masterminds recently spoke with Anukriti Sharma, a 2020 batch IPS officer and the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to learn more about this shocking case and her investigation. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “Working on this case was a spine-chilling experience, one that makes me question whether we are still living in the dark ages.”
A KIDNAPPING UNFOLDS
Following the complaint from Rajpal and his family, Anukriti’s team sprang into action, apprehending the two men involved. During their interrogation, the boys revealed that they had been paid ₹5 lakh by a man named Durjan Singh to abduct Rajpal, believing that the boy – born with inverted feet – had special significance. The police then interrogated Durjan Singh, who led them to Santosh in Etah, and Santosh, in turn, pointed them to four tantriks in Agra. What followed in the investigation shocked even the police.
As the investigation into the tantriks unfolded, officers discovered an unsettling trove of evidence on their mobile phones. Among the photos were countless images of young girls, accompanied by detailed descriptions. These descriptions were deeply troubling – each included the girl’s name, her parents’ names, date of birth, and even more disturbing details. The information also included the girl’s date of menstruation, her physical status (coded as “touch” or “untouch”), her weight, and even details of moles, cuts, or burn marks on her body.
These photos, along with the girls’ personal details, were sent to the Guru (Tantrik). A disciple of the Guru would then approach the girl under the guise of a “demo” to assess her suitability. Once the girl passed the test, she was taken to the Guru, where the Tantrik would proceed to perform a fake ritual on her.
Anukriti sadi, “At first, we couldn’t grasp the full extent of what was happening. But when we found the photos, it became clear that this case was far more complex than we had imagined. When we confronted the tantriks about the images, they claimed that performing rituals with these girls would bring a downpour of money. They insisted that wealth would literally descend from the sky during these ceremonies.”
A SHOCKING INTERROGATION
Despite the absurdity of their beliefs, the police painstakingly pieced together the links in the chain, leading to the arrest of 14 individuals – many of them tantriks. But what they uncovered next was even more disturbing.
A search of the tantriks’ mobile phones revealed a collection of deeply unsettling videos. In these recordings, it appeared as if money was raining from the air or was being piled into boxes. But the most horrifying aspect was the presence of an unconscious, naked girl beside the cash. The footage showed tantriks engaging in sexual acts with these girls, who lay motionless, seemingly drugged or unconscious. The so-called “divine rituals” were nothing more than a grotesque charade used to exploit and violate victims under the guise of supernatural power. Several wildlife creatures were also discovered near them, including turtles, owls, and other animals.
“The tantriks told us this was part of an ancient ritual,” Anukriti explained. “They claimed that if one found the right Guru, these ceremonies could bring untold wealth. But in reality, this was the height of blind superstition – nothing more than a monstrous scam preying on people’s beliefs.”
DISTURBING CRITERIA
According to this disturbing nexus, there were specific eligibility criteria for girls. These included being at least 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing more than 48 kg. The girls should not have been bitten by a dog or any other animal, nor should they have ever undergone any surgery. Additionally, there should be no cuts or burn marks on their bodies. It was preferred if they had never engaged in any sexual activity. These strict and troubling criteria were set as part of the exploitation scheme.
SEPARATE VOCABULARY
This entire nexus operates under a unique terminology. The guru is referred to as the ‘Karigar,’ while the girls, animals, coins, and other items involved are called ‘Articles.’ The members of their gang are referred to as ‘Media,’ who are constantly on the lookout for new victims. Using their network, these individuals share the attributes and special characteristics of the ‘Articles’ through videos and pictures with members of the Karigar group. According to the police, the gang believes that when the Karigar performs rituals on these ‘Articles’ at a specific date and time, a “rain of money” follows. In this twisted belief system, the girl receives the greatest share of the money.
REACHING THE VICTIM
So far, the police have managed to identify only one victim. This is largely because the addresses of the girls were not provided in any of the information they received. The father of the victim has made shocking revelations regarding the case. He explained that he was promised ₹35 crore from the so-called Dhan Varsha (rain of wealth), with ₹2 crore promised to him personally, which he believed would change his life.
The victim, in her statement, shared that she had been taken to three different Karigars (gurus) but has no memory of what happened at any of these locations. She could not recall anything about those places at all.
Anukriti remarked, “Even though the girl does not remember the details, the way this gang operated, it’s almost certain she was sexually exploited. This, we believe, was the primary motive behind her abduction.”
MULTIPLE MODES OF FRAUDS
Another troubling aspect of this case is the financial fraud intertwined with sexual exploitation, disguised under the veil of superstition. In some instances, families of girls who are better off financially, lured by promises of wealth, willingly pay the gang for bringing the girls to the tantriks, covering the expenses themselves. This reveals the deceptive manipulation of their greed.
IPS Anukriti pointed out that it’s likely the photos and videos of the sexual exploitation were being sold. The police are actively investigating this possibility.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
At present, the police are focused on tracing all the girls involved in the case. They are working to determine whether the girls have returned home safely or if they have been trafficked or subjected to other forms of exploitation. Additionally, investigators are looking into whether there are other individuals behind the scenes, possibly orchestrating the exploitation – whether it’s the tantrik performing the rituals while others engage in the abuse, selecting girls based on their preferences.
The gang primarily operates in Agra, Etah, and Shikohabad, with many of its members hailing from Agra.
