Fake baba takes collegian for a ride in Mumbai

A self-proclaimed healer has been arrested for allegedly duping and stealing cash and jewellery worth Rs33,000 from a third-year Arts student.

On June 20, when Shreya Shah, 20, was near a mall in Mumbai Central, Pravin Parikh alias Baba Sant Das, 78, befriended her. Shah suffers from leucoderma. “Parikh identified himself as a doctor and claimed that he could cure her skin ailment. They both exchanged phone numbers,” said an officer from the Azad Maidan police station.

On June 25, Parikh called Shah and asked her to meet him at a restaurant near Chh-atrapati Shivaji Terminus.

“Parikh took Shah to a lodge on PD Mello Road. For three hours, he pretending to diagnose her and then gave her an injection and a few pills after which fell unconscious,” the police officer added.

When she regained consciousness 30 minutes later, she saw Parikh in the room. “She went to the washroom and by the time she came out, she found Parikh and her cash and jewellery worth Rs33,000 missing. She approached the Azad Maidan police station,” said the officer. “From his mobile phone records, we found that Parikh lived at Swami Samarth Vridhashram at Airoli and arrested him on Saturday.”

Parikh has been remanded in police custody until July 6.
The victim also works at a cable operating firm in Pydhonie.