Daijiworld Media Network – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 20: A self-styled 'baba' who subjected villagers to brutal and degrading rituals under the guise of spiritual healing has been exposed in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Identified as Sanjay Pagare, the so-called baba operated from a temple in Shiur village, Vaijapur tehsil, and ran a horrifying two-year-long campaign that preyed on villagers' blind faith. Claiming supernatural powers, Pagare promised to exorcise spirits, arrange marriages, and help childless couples—all through aghori-style rituals.

However, the reality was far more sinister. Men and women were beaten with sticks, made to shove their shoes into their mouths, and forced to run in circles around the temple. In one of the most disturbing acts, followers were reportedly made to drink his urine, falsely claimed as a part of his spiritual treatment.

The shocking abuse came to light after activists from an anti-superstition organisation conducted a sting operation using hidden cameras. The visuals, now with the authorities and aired by NDTV, capture several disturbing scenes, including Pagare stepping on a man’s face, making him smell a shoe, and throwing yellow powder on him during a so-called ritual.

In other clips, Pagare is seen striking both men and women with a long stick, describing the violence as a form of spiritual cleansing.

Following the complaint, a case was registered against Sanjay Pagare under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of fraud, assault, and promoting superstition.

Activists have demanded strict enforcement of the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act to prevent such cruel practices and ensure justice for the victims.