A shocking case of alleged domestic harassment and occult practices against a 27-year-old married woman has surfaced in Mumbai, following which the Amboli Police have registered a case against seven persons, including the victim’s husband and father-in-law.
According to the police, the victim, identified as Masira (27), was married to Afzal Shaha Sayyed on February 2, 2021. Soon after the marriage, her in-laws allegedly began harassing her over trivial issues. The complainant alleged that her mother-in-law and father-in-law mentally tortured her by taunting her for not contributing financially to the household and business expenses. Her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law allegedly mocked her over her weight as well.
The victim further alleged that her father-in-law, Munnavar Shaha Sayyed, who calls himself “Basha Baba” and claims to perform exorcism rituals, accused her of being possessed by evil spirits. On this pretext, he allegedly subjected her to inhuman and superstitious rituals. The complaint states that he performed occult practices such as rubbing salt over her body, circling wet slippers around her and assaulting her with peacock feathers.
Due to the continuous harassment and mental trauma, the victim’s mental health reportedly deteriorated. The woman alleged that during her pregnancies in August 2023 and January 2024, her husband physically assaulted and abused her without reason. She further claimed that the constant mental stress and physical abuse from her in-laws led to miscarriages on both occasions.
The complainant also alleged that after marriage, her husband threw her out of the house. Additionally, gold ornaments weighing around seven tolas, estimated to be worth Rs 8 lakh, along with other household items received from her parental family during the wedding, were allegedly retained and misappropriated by her in-laws.
Based on the woman’s complaint, Amboli Police have registered an FIR against seven accused, including husband Afzal Shaha Sayyed, father-in-law Munnavar Shaha Sayyed, mother-in-law Sultana and brother-in-law, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
Woman Police Sub-Inspector Priya Prakash Patil is carrying out further investigation in the matter.