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Crime
Witch Doctor Chandresh Panchal Arrested in Ahmedabad Over Alleged Rape of 15‑Year‑Old
✍️ TOI City
🗓 19 Aug 2026, 09:43 AM
👁 17
Police in Sola, Ahmedabad have arrested self‑styled witch doctor Chandresh Panchal after a 15‑year‑old girl accused him of repeated rape during purported healing rituals.
Police in Sola, a suburb of Ahmedabad, detained Chandresh Panchal, who markets himself as a witch doctor, following a complaint that he repeatedly raped a fifteen‑year‑old girl at her home. The arrest was made on Sunday after the victim’s family approached the police with a formal statement.
According to the filing, Panchal claimed he could cure the girl’s illness through special rituals that required him to be alone with her. The minor later alleged that the so‑called healing sessions turned into sexual assaults that were repeated over a period of time.
The girl, suffering severe mental trauma, disclosed the abuse to her parents only recently. Her parents then reported the matter to Sola police, prompting an immediate investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Authorities have taken Panchal into custody and registered a POCSO case. The investigation remains ongoing as police gather further evidence and statements from the victim and witnesses.
The incident has raised concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable children by individuals posing as traditional healers, prompting calls for stricter monitoring of such practices in Gujarat.
According to the filing, Panchal claimed he could cure the girl’s illness through special rituals that required him to be alone with her. The minor later alleged that the so‑called healing sessions turned into sexual assaults that were repeated over a period of time.
The girl, suffering severe mental trauma, disclosed the abuse to her parents only recently. Her parents then reported the matter to Sola police, prompting an immediate investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Authorities have taken Panchal into custody and registered a POCSO case. The investigation remains ongoing as police gather further evidence and statements from the victim and witnesses.
The incident has raised concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable children by individuals posing as traditional healers, prompting calls for stricter monitoring of such practices in Gujarat.