Fake "Baba" Arrested In City For Cheating People

The S R Nagar police today took into custody a fake "baba" who claimed to be an expert in hypnotism.

According to S R Nagar SI Rajender Goud, Irfan (35), a native of Pathakachabutra, Doulana mandal, in Uttar Pradesh, came to Hyderabad a year ago and was staying at Nampally along with his family. He opened a shop near KVR Enclave, Ameerpet, in the name of "Sufi Alladin Ajmeervale Baba" and started his activities. He telecast an advertisement in some local channels saying that he was an expert in hypnotism, and published pamphlets saying that he would solve all problems of people who approached him.

Several innocent people used to meet him every day and pay the amounts that he demanded. One of them was a woman from Kummaribasthi of Musheerabad who met him 15 days back and told him that she was facing disturbances with her husband. She said that her marriage took place nine years back and that she had two children. She said that there was friction between her and her husband every day, and no peace in the house as a result.

Irfan said that a demon was moving around in her house and that he needed Rs 50,000 to send it away. She paid Rs. 30,000 as the first installment, and he gave her some herbs and "thayethulu" (amulets) and directed her to put them under the pillow of her husband every day, saying that her husband would start listening to her soon.

She paid the remining money, too, to Irfan later. However, she found no change in her husband's behaviour. In fact, the friction between her and her husband increased. She informed Irfan about her problem again, and in response, he asked her to stay along with him and behaved vulgarly.

Shocked at his behavior, she approached the S R Nagar police. The police filed a case and arrested Irfan, seized herbs and other goods from his shop, and sent him to judicial remand.