BHANDARA ,July 14: Activists of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS), with the help of the local police, exposed 35-year-old Raghunath Pardhi who cheated credulous people by claiming to possess occult powers.Pardhi used to hold his darbar at Bhagdi, about 75 kms from here in Lakhandur tehsil. He claimed that with the divine blessings of Nagmata and Sitamata, he could cure any disease and treat the patients of most poisonous snake-bite.With the hope of getting their problems solved, devotees from Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Mumbai and Yavatmal would throng the baba's darbar. It was compulsory for them to purchase the baba's photograph, which costed Rs 25, and worship it for quick relief.A Bhagdi resident informed Vishnudas Lonare, ANS tehsil unit co-ordinator, about Pardhi's malpractice. Lonare and another ANS activist Chandrashekhar Bhivgade went to Pardhi on July 5 and complained of stomach ache. The baba gave them angara and asked them to see him on July 7. The ANS activists reached the darbar along with two cops, on the given date.Pardhi told the activists that the stomach ache was the result of black magic. However, they asked him to prove it. They also offered to pay him Rs 2 lakh if he proved his divine prowess.However, the surprised baba did not accept their challenge. He later confessed to having cheated people and selling his photographs.The police booked Pardhi under sections 2, 3 and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Prevention) Act, 1956, and arrested him.
