Court – Karnataka Court Orders Judicial Custody After Woman Arrested in Alleged Black Magic Case
Court – Police in Karnataka have arrested a 65-year-old woman after she was accused of carrying out an alleged black magic ritual inside a courtroom in Chikkaballapur. Investigators claim the woman entered the premises and scattered white mustard seeds, believed to have been used in a ritual, on the chair assigned to the First Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC Court. Authorities have initiated legal action, and the inquiry into the incident is continuing.
CCTV Footage Led to Police Action
According to officials from the Chikkaballapur City Police, the incident was detected after security camera footage from inside the courtroom was reviewed. The recordings, captured two days before the arrest, allegedly show the woman entering the courtroom and placing white mustard seeds on the judge’s chair. Investigators suspect the act was linked to a ritual commonly associated with black magic practices. The footage became a key piece of evidence during the initial stages of the investigation.
Court Administration Filed the Complaint
The matter was formally reported by the court’s Chief Administrative Officer, Nethra, who submitted a complaint after the incident came to light. Based on the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation to identify and locate the individual seen in the CCTV footage. Officers later identified the accused as Manjula, a 65-year-old resident, and took her into custody for questioning before making the arrest.
Charges Registered Under Karnataka Law
Police confirmed that the case has been filed under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017. The legislation was enacted to prohibit practices considered exploitative or based on superstitious beliefs while promoting scientific awareness and preventing harmful rituals. Officials stated that the charges were registered after examining the available evidence and the complaint submitted by court authorities.
Judicial Custody Ordered
Following her arrest, the accused was produced before the appropriate court. Police said the court ordered that she be placed in judicial custody for 14 days while the investigation progresses. Authorities have not disclosed whether the woman offered any explanation regarding the alleged incident during preliminary questioning. Officials also indicated that additional evidence, if required, will be collected as part of the ongoing investigation.
Investigation Continues
Law enforcement agencies have stated that the inquiry remains active and that investigators are examining all aspects of the incident to establish the sequence of events. Police have not released further details at this stage, emphasizing that the investigation is still underway. Any additional information, including findings from the ongoing inquiry, is expected to be shared after the investigation reaches the next stage.