A 65‑year‑old woman was identified on CCTV footage performing a black‑magic ritual inside a Karnataka courtroom and has been arrested. Authorities suspect the act was intended to sway the outcome of an ongoing civil dispute, and the case has been filed under the state's anti‑black‑magic law.

Key Takeaways

  • CCTV footage captured a black‑magic ritual inside a Karnataka court.
  • 65‑year‑old Manjula was charged under the 2017 Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act.
  • She has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.

In Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, a 65‑year‑old woman identified as Manjula was caught on a court’s surveillance cameras sprinkling consecrated white mustard seeds on the dais of the 1st Additional Senior Civil Judge. The act, described as a black‑magic ritual, appears to have been an attempt to influence an ongoing civil case.

How the Incident Unfolded

The court’s CCTV system recorded the ritual, prompting the judicial staff to review the footage and alert the police. Investigators later confirmed that the woman entered the courtroom premises deliberately, performed the ritual, and left before the cameras were noticed.

Legal Framework

Police lodged a complaint based on the observations of the Chief Administrative Officer, Netra, and registered a case under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017. The Act criminalises a wide range of superstitious and exploitative practices, prescribing stringent penalties for those who engage in or promote them.

Current Judicial Proceedings

Following her arrest, Manjula was produced before the court and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Law enforcement agencies are now probing whether any accomplices were involved and what specific motive drove the ritual, especially in relation to the civil dispute in question.

Broader Implications

This case underscores the pivotal role of surveillance technology in upholding courtroom integrity and deterring illicit practices. It also highlights the relevance of Karnataka’s 2017 anti‑black‑magic legislation as a deterrent against the exploitation of superstitious beliefs within the legal system.