End of road for sleazy godman

Molests woman who sought help from him

A woman was allegedly molested by a 40-year-old self-styled godman in central Delhi’s Daryaganj last week.

She wanted to get in touch with her father, who left the family years ago and moved to Canada, never to return. The accused, Zulfikar, assured the woman that he would get her father back, but molested her during one of their meetings. He was arrested on Saturday, police said.

According to police, Zulfikar also duped the woman of Rs 28,100 and gold jewellery. The woman told police that she contacted Zulfikar after seeing a newspaper advertisement on November 2.

"A mobile phone number was given in the advertisement, promising to provide solution to every problem," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Parmaditya said.

When she called the number, she was asked to come to their office at Gali Hakimwali in Daryaganj. She went there on November 3. “Impressed by the tantrik’s tactics, she gave him Rs 7,100 for conducting prayers,” Parmaditya added.

On November 4, Zulfikar called the woman and told her to give a sacrifice of three goats. He also demanded Rs 21,000. She was shown more 'tantric tactics' and fell prey to that. Zulfikar also demanded a gold chain and two gold rings which she was wearing. He then told her to return on November 6.

When she went again, he asked her to start a physical relationship with him, following which she got scared and returned home, where she narrated her ordeal to her mother. Her mother then sent a friend with her and reported the matter to Daryaganj police station on November 7.

On the basis of her statement, a case under sections 354-A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered.

A police team immediately raided Gali Hakimwali and arrested Zulfikar. He told police that he cheated people by showing magical tricks. “On finding that the woman was under complete control and following his direction, Zulfikar thought of establishing a physical relationship with her. He asked her to come with him, but she denied,” the police officer said.

Zulfikar is married and has two sons and four daughters. He was born and brought up in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut and came to Delhi 15 years ago.