Self-styled 'godman', daughter held for duping people

, Oct 31: A 53-year-old self-styled godman, his daughter and a property dealer have been arrested for allegedly duping gullible people in the name of occult and rituals.

Aslam Parvez alias Sufi alias Billa (53), his daughter Sheeba and the property dealer Shahid alias Mota were arrested on Friday by Central Delhi police from Sirkiwalan area after a complaint was lodged against them by Mumtaz Begum on October 19 at Hauz Qazi police station.

Police have recovered Rs 3 lakh cash and 72 gram gold jewellery from his hideouts. According to the complainant, her husband had expired in April, 2012 and she has a 13-year-old daughter. Sometime in June 2013, Sheeba came in her contact and made her believe that her husband's soul is trapped and roaming around in her house.

She claimed it could be fatal for her only brother and daughter. Sheeba then offered that her father Aslam Parvez can "rescue" the soul. Thereafter, Parvez met the complainant at her house and asked her to arrange Rs 5 lakh for the solution. He also warned her not to disclose the matter to anyone as it could prove fatal for her daughter and brother.

Begum, somehow, arranged the money from her small savings and also took loans from her relatives and handed over the money to Parvez. After few days, he demanded Rs 5 lakh which was given to him, police said.

"In September, Parvez again demanded Rs 10 Lakh... Begum was so frightened that she handed over original registered documents of her house and gold jewellery of her sisters to Parvez and a property dealer namely Shahid alias Mota," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Alok Kumar today.

On the basis of these documents, Parvez and Shahid received Rs 2 Lakh as advance amount from somebody to sell the house. After some time, the complainant disclosed the happenings to her younger brother and sisters.

They then demanded their original documents from the duo, police said. "Instead of returning the documents, the accused Parvez gave three 'potlis' to them to be opened on first day of moon. All the family members waited for the day - October 6 - but were shocked to find that there were two bundles of papers covered with notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500, some handwritten Urdu papers and old coins laced with brass," said Kumar.

Thereafter, the family realised that they have been duped and they lodged a police complaint. Meanwhile Parwez, his daughter and Shahid fled from their houses. During investigation, extensive search of the trio was launched.

Finally, on the basis of secret information and technical surveillance, Parvez was arrested from Sirkiwalan area on Friday. "After his arrest, he was interrogated at length during which he claimed to be an influential person in Old Delhi area. People used to visit him for solution of their problems through his own rituals and methods. He also told police that he along with his daughter and Shahid had duped several persons in the name of rituals," said Kumar.

His daughter and Shahid are still absconding and raids are being conducted to nab them. Further investigation is in progress, police said.

PTI