India, Oct. 1 -- A 22-year-old man from Nerul has accused a Palghar-based family of cheating him to the tune of Rs.3.1 crore over six years by exploiting his desperation to get his bedridden mother cured through rituals, black magic, and threats. Two of them were arrested on September 27 in Palghar, and the police are searching for the others.

The Nerul police registered a case on 23 September against six people, including the alleged mastermind, who is a cleric identified as Mustafa Shaikh. His son Ahad, daughter Safina, son-in-law Nanu, and associates Wasim and Rafiq were also booked. The police have arrested Nanu and Safina.

The complainant is a BMS graduate who lives in Nerul with his parents and two sisters. His ailing mother has b...