B’luru cops begin investigation after businessman alleges wife performed black magic to harm him
Bengaluru: A 38-year-old businessman has made disturbing allegations, claiming that his wife and her parents engaged in black magic rituals in their home with the intent to harm him and his family. The Cubbon Park police have initiated an investigation into the matter under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017.
The businessman, who goes by the name Sanjay (name changed), resides in an apartment located on Rest House Road, off Church Street. He reported that he married Dr. Kalpana (name changed), aged 35, on June 1, 2022. The situation took a bizarre turn on February 22, 2023, when Sanjay returned home from a business trip to discover his wife had cut both her thumbs. She was allegedly sprinkling the blood from her thumbs onto a mixture of ash, camphor, and coconut spread in the bathroom. Additionally, lemon pieces were found strewn in various areas, and signs of a puja (ritual) were evident in both the bathroom and several corners of the house.
Sensing that something was amiss, Sanjay enlisted the services of a detective agency to investigate the situation further. The agency's report allegedly revealed that his wife and her parents had consulted with an astrologer from Attiguppe and a priest known for performing rituals in graveyards.
On June 22, Sanjay's wife went to her parental home. Upon her return, she was accused of adding various oils, ash, and even saliva to the food prepared by their cook at their marital home. This tainted food was unknowingly consumed by Sanjay and other family members. Fearing for their safety, Sanjay and his family decided to send Kalpana back to her parental home. Sanjay's mother successfully managed to do so on July 5.
Sanjay has raised concerns that his father has been bedridden for several days, and their family dog passed away a few months ago, suspecting these developments may be linked to the alleged black magic practices.
A senior police officer disclosed that the complaint was filed on Saturday evening, and an investigation into the matter will commence promptly.
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Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi begins 3-day India visit
New Delhi (PTI): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi began a three-day official visit to India on Wednesday, marking the first high-level diplomatic engagement from Tehran since the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran more than two months ago.
Araghchi is visiting India primarily to attend a two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers beginning Thursday.
The Iranian foreign minister is set to hold wide-ranging bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, focusing on the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz is expected to feature prominently. The Indian side is likely to press for the safe passage of remaining merchant vessels through the strategic waterway, according to people familiar with the matter.
Araghchi and other foreign ministers of the BRICS member states are scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
"A very warm welcome to Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on his arrival in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.
The escalating crisis in West Asia and its impact on the global energy supply chain are expected to dominate deliberations at the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting.
India, as the chair of BRICS, is hosting the conclave of the foreign ministers ahead of the annual summit of the grouping in September.
It will be interesting to see if the foreign ministerial conclave manages to produce a consensus statement on the conflict in West Asia.
Sharp differences among the member states over the US-Israel war on Iran stalled India's efforts to build a consensus position on the conflict during a meeting of the grouping's deputy foreign ministers and special envoys on Middle East and North America last month.
No consensus statement on the conflict could be reached largely due to differences between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran. The two neighbouring countries have sparred in recent weeks over Iran's alleged attacks on energy infrastructure in the UAE.
"The active presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in mechanisms such as BRICS represents a strategic choice to strengthen genuine multilateralism, expand equitable cooperation, and participate in shaping a more just order in international relations," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on 'X'.
"The BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi can be an important opportunity for dialogue on the future of Global South cooperation, reforming international economic governance, developing independent trade, strengthening financial and banking ties, and reducing countries' dependence on discriminatory and unilateral mechanisms," he said.
Gharibabadi said Iran, with its geopolitical, energy, transit, scientific, and human capacities, can play an effective role in the BRICS agenda for balanced development, economic security, regional connectivity, and amplifying the voice of independent countries.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister is in New Delhi for the BRICS meeting.
"In this path, opposition to America's unilateral coercive measures and their illegal and anti-development effects is an inseparable part of defending economic justice and the rights of nations to development," he said.
After the West Asia conflict escalated, Iran urged India, as the current BRICS chair, to leverage its "independent role" to halt the US-Israel hostilities against Iran.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas).
BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
It has emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.
The BRICS foreign ministers held their last meeting on the margins of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025.
