Mumbai:
The Mumbai police, which are interrogating fake black magician Mehndi Kasim Sheikh, claimed that none of the six victims (all cousins) knew that the others had been raped by Sheikh at different places, even though they were taking 'treatment' from him. It was only after one of the victims lodged a police complaint, others revealed their plight.
"Even though all the sisters were sent for treatment by their mothers to Sheikh, none of them told each other. When one of the girls informed her parents about Sheikh's heinous act and lodged a complaint, others revealed that they too have been raped and threatened by Sheikh not to tell their parents," said one of the investigators of the case.
A police source said, "The youngest victim was molested by Sheikh and medical reports suggest there was no sexual intercourse with her." He added that the police have seized 15 sachets containing a powder and sent them to the forensic department for analysis. "This powder was mixed with water and given to the girls. This used to make them unconscious. We have also recovered some books on traditional medicines from Sheikh 's flat," he said.
Meanwhile, the police raided a flat in Kalyan which Sheikh had taken on rent and seized cash and valuables worth Rs 1.1 crore from the flat. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Cherring Dorje said, "We seized Rs 87.3 lakh and gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 13.7 lakh. We believe that Sheikh had cheated the families in parting with cash and valuables on some pretext."
The police have also found out that Sheikh, who graduated in Urdu from a UP university, had come to the city in 1999 and came in contact with the families in 2002 when he was hired to teach Urdu to the girls.
"He had taught them for around six months before some men from the families objected and made him stop coming to their house. However, Sheikh kept in touch with the women and gained their trust," said inspector Santosh Bagwe.
Shaikh had allegedly told the three women of the families in 2006 that their daughters would deliver mentally challenged children if they were not treated and persuaded them into renting separate places for their treatment.
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