In a shocking incident from Odisha’s Balasore district, a fake Baba, Chandra Sekhar Das, has been arrested by the Balasore Town Police for duping a widow out of 2.5 acres of land. The accused, who claimed to be a godman from the Chhatia Matha of Jajpur, used deceitful tactics to manipulate the grieving widow into transferring her land to him.
The widow, who had recently lost her eldest son and husband, was reportedly in mental distress when Chandra Sekhar Das took advantage of her vulnerable state. He allegedly told her that her younger son would face death unless she settled the so-called ‘Vastu Dosa’ by handing over the land to him. Using this fear tactic, the fake Baba convinced the woman to part with her property, valued at several lakhs of rupees.
The victim, unaware of his fraudulent activities, handed over the 2.5-acre land, believing that it would protect her family from harm. After the incident came to light, an FIR was lodged at the Balasore Town Police Station, leading to a swift investigation.
Following the complaint, the police took quick action, carried out an investigation, and arrested Chandra Sekhar Das. The fake Baba has been charged with fraud and is now in police custody, awaiting court proceedings.
This incident adds to a series of similar cases involving fake Babas in Odisha. In a separate case last month, a Baba was arrested in Sambalpur district for allegedly sexually abusing a tribal woman after giving her herbal medicine. In another case from October last year, a Baba was caught by the forest department for cooking and consuming wild animal meat in Cuttack district.
The growing number of such incidents highlights the vulnerability of people, particularly in rural areas, to exploitation by self-proclaimed religious figures. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities involving fake Babas or godmen.
