A family from Thane district, Maharashtra, reported being defrauded of ₹1.66 crore (approximately $200,000 USD) by Manjunath Shetty, who preyed on their fears of black magic. The family met Shetty in January 2024, where he convinced them that a relative had cast black magic against them. To counter this, he prescribed elaborate rituals and a pilgrimage to the 12 Jyotirlingas, sacred temples of Lord Shiva. Over two years, the family made multiple payments, including ₹10 lakh in cash and approximately ₹1.56 crore through online transactions. Shetty allegedly manipulated them by claiming he needed funds to settle court cases, warning that if imprisoned, their problems would persist. The Kasarvadavali police registered a first information report (FIR) against Shetty under Section 418(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. No arrests have been made yet.