In Thane district, Maharashtra, a family was reportedly swindled out of ₹1.66 crore (approximately $200,000 USD) by Manjunath Shetty, who claimed to offer solutions to their supposed black magic woes. The family's ordeal began in January 2024 when they met Shetty at an event. He convinced them that a relative had cast a spell on them, leading to a series of financial struggles. To remedy their situation, Shetty prescribed elaborate rituals and a pilgrimage to the 12 Jyotirlingas, sacred temples of Lord Shiva. Over two years, the family made payments, including ₹10 lakh (roughly $12,000 USD) for ritual materials and approximately ₹1.56 crore (about $187,000 USD) through online transactions to Shetty and his mother's bank accounts. He further manipulated them by claiming he needed funds for pending court cases, warning that his imprisonment would prevent the rituals from being completed. The Kasarvadavali police have registered a case against Shetty under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, but no arrests have been made yet.