Bilaspur: A man was detained in Chhattisgarh after allegedly performing an occult ritual at a cremation ground using the photograph of High Court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha in an attempt to help a relative secure bail in a stabbing case, according to an NDTV report.
The incident took place at a cremation ground in Devri village under Sipat police station on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Villagers reportedly spotted four men behaving suspiciously and attempted to stop them. Three managed to escape, while Rishikesh Kumar was caught and handed over to the police.
Police recovered a photograph of Chief Justice Sinha, along with a fish, lemons, vermilion, photographs of the accused and the victim in the stabbing case, and other ritual materials.
During questioning, Kumar reportedly told police that the ritual was intended to help his relative, Priyanshu Bole, obtain bail. Bole had been arrested in connection with the stabbing case, while bail proceedings involving other accused were also pending.
Kumar allegedly said he and his friends had learned about the ritual through a social-media video featuring a self-styled tantric, who claimed that such practices could help secure bail. They subsequently went to the cremation ground to perform the ritual.
Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh warned that superstitious practices cannot influence judicial decisions or secure bail. He urged people involved in criminal activities to reform rather than resort to such practices.
Police are continuing their investigation and are attempting to identify and trace the three men who fled the scene.