Kolhapur: An evangelist and his son from Chennai were among six booked by the Sangli police under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 over claims made over treating cancer and helping to get 99% marks in exam just by praying.The event “Maharashtra Prayer Festival 2026” was organised at Kawalapur near Sangli city. The Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and right wing outfits filed a complaint against the event stating that it would spread black magic in the society. The event started on Friday, but the police revoked its permission thereafter citing violation of terms and conditions.The organisers challenged the police decision of cancelling the permission in Bombay high court’s Kolhapur bench, which allowed the event to take place. Around 10,000 people attended the event on Sunday, the last day. The police said the event was concluded amid heavy police protection.Sections 3(2) of the Black Magic Act, related to the offence to propagate the black magic, has been invoked with sections 223 (disobedience to order) and 3(5) [common intention] of the BNS 2023. No arrest has been made so far since the FIR was registered on Saturday evening. A constable filed the complaint, upon which the case was registered.According to the complaint, Hope of Glory Ministry run by the evangelist and his family members had organised the Maharashtra Prayer Festival. A permission was sought for the use of loudspeakers on Feb 28 and it was allowed on March 7 with terms and conditions.Subsequently, the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and Sakal Hindu Samaj Sangli made an application to the police separately stating that the programmes through which superstitions were spread were conducted in the event. Their claim was based on earlier events streamed on online platforms. Accordingly, Sangli police deployed police personnel for the event scheduled at vacant space near Kawalapur.In the event, the evangelist called a woman and a man from the crowd to share their experience. The man allegedly told the crowd that he was detected with stage four cancer. He underwent chemo and was told by the doctors that he would not live more than 15 days. He told the crowd that the evangelist took his name in the prayer and because of “lay hand pray”, he was alive.The woman said she had a blood related disease. After visiting the doctor she visited the evangelist and his wife. She said her blood related disease was cured after reading out the prayer. She claimed her disease faded and she scored 99% in her graduation.The police in the FIR mentioned that these had potential to spread superstitions in the society as neither was backed by scientific evidence. Accordingly, the evangelist, his son, the organisers, the woman and an unknown man have been booked at Sangli Rural police station.
