In a bizarre turn of events in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, a self-proclaimed tantrik’s grand promises of raining money backfired spectacularly. Vijay Kumar Raj, 48, lured four young men from Korea district with visions of instant wealth through tantric rituals. What followed was a tale of deception, rage, and retaliation that has left police scrambling.
The scam unfolded in Sambalpuri village under Bilha area. Raj staged an elaborate video showing bundles of cash under coconuts and incense sticks, with money seemingly showering from above. This footage convinced the victims that their modest investments could multiply into crores. On January 30, the four youths handed over Rs 2.5 lakh for the supposed ritual, roped in by Raj and his accomplices—including three women and local sarpanch husband Rikhiram Navrang.
But the miracle never materialized. Realizing the fraud, the young men demanded refunds, only to be stonewalled. Their fury peaked late on January 31. As Raj drove off in his car, stopping at a dhaba near Ratanpur around 3:30 AM, the victims ambushed him in two vehicles. They assaulted him, seized his car, three mobile phones, and Rs 8,000 in cash, then fled into the night.
Police sprang into action under SSP Rajneesh Singh’s orders. Using mobile tracking and technical evidence, teams raided Ambikapur and Korea, arresting all four on February 2. Authorities recovered the stolen car, phones, cash, and the Creta and Ertiga used in the crime, bringing them to Bilaspur.
Interrogations revealed the youths acted out of revenge. Shockingly, investigations exposed Raj as the mastermind scammer, preying on desperate believers with fake tantra-mantra schemes. ASP Madhulika Singh confirmed a fraud case against him and his aides at Bilha station. This incident underscores the dangers of superstition-driven cons in rural India, where hope for quick riches often leads to heartbreak—and now, violent justice.