Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Bhiwandi Cleric Arrested for Sexual Assault During Faith Healing Ritual
A woman who was sick went to a religious leader, called a cleric, because her illness would not go away.
The cleric told her he could make her better with special prayers and rituals.
But during one of those rituals, he hurt her in a very bad way, which is against the law.
He then scared her by saying he had filmed what happened and would show the video to other people.
The woman was very brave and told the police what had happened.
The police arrested the cleric, whose name is Maulana Ismail.
A judge said the cleric must stay with the police until August 18 while they keep asking him questions.
The police are also looking for another person who may have helped the cleric.
They want to find out if the cleric hurt other women too.
The law protects people, and the cleric could be punished for what he did.
A 30-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by 50-year-old cleric Maulana Ismail during faith healing rituals at a shrine near Varala Devi Talao in Bhiwandi.
The cleric allegedly threatened to circulate a video of the assault that he claimed to have recorded, in an attempt to blackmail the woman.
Ismail was arrested and a court remanded him to police custody until August 18.
The alleged incidents took place between June 9, 2024 and August 10, 2026, and the woman lodged a complaint on the night of August 11.
Police registered a case under BNS Sections 64(2), 74 and 78, the Maharashtra Black Magic Act, 2013, and IT Act Sections 66E and 67, and are probing whether other women were targeted.
- Who
- A 30-year-old woman who works as an assistant at a private clinic in Nehru Nagar, Bhiwandi, and Maulana Ismail, a 50-year-old cleric arrested for allegedly assaulting her.
- What
- The cleric allegedly sexually assaulted the woman during a faith healing ritual at a shrine and threatened to circulate a video of the assault to blackmail her.
- When
- Allegedly between June 9, 2024 and August 10, 2026; the complaint was lodged on the night of August 11.
- Where
- At a shrine near Varala Devi Talao in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The accused allegedly lured the woman on the pretext of curing her illness through faith healing rituals and then allegedly assaulted and blackmailed her.
- Victim
- 30-year-old woman, assistant at a private clinic, resident of Nehru Nagar near Hanuman Temple, Bhiwandi
- Accused
- Maulana Ismail, 50-year-old cleric, remanded to police custody until August 18
- Other Accused
- An unidentified person; the accused claimed the video was with a person named Irfan
- Location
- Shrine near Varala Devi Talao, Bhiwandi
- Period of Incidents
- June 9, 2024 to August 10, 2026
- Legal Provisions
- BNS Sections 64(2), 74 and 78; Maharashtra Black Magic Act, 2013 Section 3; IT Act, 2000 Sections 66E and 67
- Complaint Lodged
- Night of August 11 with Bhiwandi City police
- Investigating Officers
- Police Inspectors Dnyaneshwar Kadam and Vinod Patil