Rat poison, tantric rituals and a ‘witch’: Vadodara shaman arrested after woman’s suicide

In a tragic case, a self-styled shaman named Girish, also known as Bapu Parmar, has been arrested in Vadodara for allegedly driving a 28-year-old woman to suicide. The woman, who worked as a manager at a photo studio, consumed rat poison and passed away at SSG Hospital on January 6, 2026. Police claim that Parmar lured the woman into a relationship using claims of "tantric rituals" and the presence of a "witch" on her chest, which she believed was causing her sleeping problems.

According to the complaint filed by the woman's mother, Parmar convinced her daughter that the rituals were necessary to rid her of the malevolent presence. During the rituals, Parmar allegedly cut the woman's hair, gave her a garland, a small bottle of perfume, honey, and coins, and harassed her repeatedly under the pretext of the rituals.

The police officer, A J Pandav, said that the relationship evolved into one of physical and psychological harassment, with Parmar obtaining money from the woman and causing her distress. The investigation began after the woman's death was initially presumed to be an accident. Items seized from the scene, including the hair, perfume, honey bottles, coins, and the victim's phone, were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

The findings supported the case against Parmar, who was arrested on August 18, 2025, for abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 354 for compelling a person to do or omit an act by inducing fear of divine displeasure.