Rs 14-Crore ‘Miracle Cure’ Scam: Pune IT Engineer Duped by Self-Styled Godman for Daughter’s Health

In a shocking case of spiritual fraud, Pune-based IT engineer Deepak Dolas lost about Rs 14 crore over seven years, believing a self-styled godman and his disciple could heal his seriously ill daughter. The duo, identified as ‘Baba’ Rajendra Khadke and Vedika Pandharpurkar, convinced Dolas that the spirit of the revered godman Shankar Maharaj, who passed away in 1947, resided inside Vedika’s body and could cure his daughter’s congenital disease.

Deepak Dolas was repeatedly assured that only unwavering faith—and donating his property to the “Maharaj”—would save his daughter. Driven by desperation, Dolas began transferring money to Vedika’s account, initially using his bank savings and later selling off his home and farmland in the UK. Despite promises, the daughter’s condition did not improve, leading Dolas to confront the fraudsters.

Investigators discovered that Vedika had allegedly used part of the illicit funds to buy a bungalow in Pune’s posh Mahatma Society neighborhood. The police are now probing the racket and seeking to uncover whether Rajendra Khadke and Vedika Pandharpurkar victimized others with similar scams, exploiting people’s faith and hope for a miracle cure.

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The case shines a harsh light on how vulnerable individuals can be manipulated by fraudulent claims of divine intervention, especially when loved ones’ health is at stake. Authorities have cautioned the public to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution when approached by self-proclaimed spiritual healers.

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