A man in Rajkot has been arrested in the first case under Gujarat’s newly implemented law against black magic and superstitious practices. The arrest comes after the state assembly passed the bill on August 21, which aims to curb harmful and inhuman rituals. The law officially became an act after receiving the governor’s approval.
Rajkot: A 29-year-old man from Rajkot, Gujarat, arrested for claiming to possess supernatural abilities, police reported on Friday. The arrest followed an incident in which the man allegedly conducted rituals inside a crematorium and shared a video of the event on social media.
The man, identified as Ashwin Makwana, charged under the Gujarat Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
This marks the first case registered under the new law, according to a police official.
Makwana apprehended on October 15 after a video of him performing rituals in a crematorium located in Dhoraji town, Rajkot district, went viral online. In the footage, he is seen conducting rituals inside the municipality-run crematorium in the Kumbharwada area. At one point, he circles a funeral pyre and then lies down on it while chanting.
The complainant in the FIR Said,,
“During our investigation, we identified the individual in the video as Ashwin Makwana, a sanitation worker,”
Inspector Said,
“He had posted the video on his Instagram account but deleted it after it went viral on WhatsApp.”
The inspector further stated that Makwana admitted to believing in tantric rituals and black magic, but this was the first time he had performed such rituals publicly and recorded them.
The official explained,
“Makwana aimed to project himself as possessing supernatural powers and wanted to teach a lesson to those who had mocked his claims in the past,”
He added,
“Despite the charges being non-bailable under the Act, Makwana was granted bail by the court the following day”
Inspector RJ Godham confirmed that this was the first FIR registered under the newly implemented law targeting black magic and related practices.
Godham explained,
“This law came into effect on September 2 through a gazette notification. When we attempted to upload the FIR on our eGujCop platform on October 15, we discovered that no code had yet been assigned for this Act, indicating that no FIRs had been registered under it before. A code was later generated, making our police station the first to file an FIR under the law,”
The Gujarat Assembly passed the bill on August 21 to address the issue of black magic and other superstitious, inhuman practices. It became law after receiving the governor’s approval.
The Act prohibits any person from performing or promoting human sacrifice, black magic, and other harmful or ‘aghori’ practices. Violators face imprisonment ranging from six months to seven years, along with fines between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000.
The Black Magic Law refers to legislation enacted to combat harmful practices associated with black magic, superstition, and occult rituals. These laws are designed to protect individuals from exploitation, physical harm, and inhuman practices that may arise from deeply rooted superstitious beliefs. In the case of Gujarat, the law was passed by the state assembly on August 21, 2023, and targets activities such as performing dangerous rituals, invoking fear through black magic, or misleading people through superstitious practices.
The law imposes penalties, including arrests, for individuals who engage in or promote such practices. It is part of broader efforts to ensure public safety and prevent harmful cultural practices that exploit vulnerable communities.
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