Neeraj Pandey, Bhopal17 minutes ago
‘A treasure worth crores is buried beneath your field…’ ‘Invisible powers are demanding a sacrifice…’ ‘Perform one final ritual and wealth will begin pouring in…’
Such false claims continue to trap people even today. Myths surrounding buried treasure, black magic and the promise of instant riches have led to crimes ranging from fraud and theft to murder and even human sacrifice.
A series of recent cases in Madhya Pradesh has revealed how the obsession with hidden treasure is driving people to commit horrific acts. In some cases, victims lost lakhs of rupees, while in another, a father allegedly killed his own daughter after being misled by a self-styled tantric.
How much truth is there behind the myth of buried treasure, and why do people become so blinded by it?
Fraud is most prevalent in Madhya Pradesh in the name of tantra-mantra.
Four cases that shocked everyone
Bhopal: Father kills teenage daughter in pursuit of buried treasure
In Bhopal’s Sukhi Sewania area, police arrested Chain Singh on 14 July 2026 for allegedly murdering his 17-year-old daughter. According to investigators, a self-styled tantric had convinced him that gold and silver treasure was buried beneath his field and could be recovered through special rituals.
On the night of 2 April, during one such ritual, the tantric allegedly claimed that a supernatural force had possessed the girl and warned that unless she was killed, the entire family would be destroyed.
Blinded by superstition, the father allegedly struck his daughter on the head with a stick before strangling her. Her body was then buried in the field.
On 3 April, the girl’s mother reported her missing. Her skeletal remains were discovered on 7 May while the field was being ploughed. Following the investigation, police arrested the father and one of his associates on 14 July, while the alleged tantric remains absconding.
Chain Singh Kushwah.
Raisen: Trader murdered after tantric claimed ‘treasure demands a sacrifice’
The search for buried treasure claimed the life of a trader in Gairatganj, Raisen. According to police, alleged tantric Prahlad Sahu convinced Vijay Jain that treasure worth crores was buried near the Parasia River and could only be recovered through a special ritual.
During the ceremony on 7 July, the tantric allegedly declared-
The earth is hot… the treasure demands a sacrifice.
Soon afterwards, Vijay Jain was allegedly hacked to death with an axe and buried beneath the sand. On 13 July, part of his leg became visible, exposing the crime. Police tracked down the suspects using call detail records and arrested the accused.
The body was recovered based on Vijay Jain’s tip-off.
Balaghat: Gang attacks woman while searching for hidden treasure
In Kirnapur, Balaghat, on 12 July, a group of 11 people allegedly broke into a house during the night after a self-proclaimed tantric claimed that buried treasure lay beneath the bed of homeowner Leelabai Maheshware.
When the woman woke up, the intruders allegedly attacked her with a knife, inflicting several stab wounds to her face in an attempt to avoid being identified.
Unable to find any treasure, they looted household valuables before fleeing. Police later arrested nine of the accused. During questioning, they admitted entering the house in search of the alleged buried treasure, but found nothing.
Mandsaur: Farmer cheated of ₹12 lakh with promises of hidden treasure
On 20 July 2026, police in Mandsaur arrested four people accused of cheating farmer Gopal Dhakad out of around ₹12 lakh by promising to unearth buried treasure and make money ‘rain from the sky’.
According to police, the accused repeatedly collected money in instalments for rituals and occult ceremonies. They allegedly frightened the farmer with stories of ghosts and spirits and even staged a fake human sacrifice.
On one occasion, after conducting a ritual in a forest, they handed him what appeared to be a bundle of cash. When he later opened it, he found only bundles of ₹20 notes. Realising he had been defrauded, the farmer approached the police.
Mandsaur police had exposed a gang of fraudsters.
Madhya Pradesh records the highest number of black magic-related murders
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 54 murders linked to black magic or witchcraft were reported across India in 2024. Of these-
Madhya Pradesh: 17 cases (highest in the country)
Chhattisgarh: 10 cases
No scriptural basis for becoming rich through occult rituals
Dainik Bhaskar spoke to Dr Shivom Dubey Shastri, an expert in astrology and tantra sadhana. According to him, in ancient times, people often buried their valuables during wars or invasions to protect them and planned to retrieve them once the danger had passed.
Over the years, this historical practice evolved into the belief that such hidden wealth is guarded by invisible powers, serpents or spirits and can only be recovered through special tantric rituals.
However, he emphasised that there is no scriptural evidence to support claims that tantra-mantra can uncover buried treasure, make money appear, or make a person wealthy overnight. He said fraudsters exploit people’s greed, fear and ignorance by using such claims to deceive them.
How the fraud typically unfolds
Social media today is flooded with misleading videos claiming to reveal buried treasure or promote tantric rituals. People influenced by such content often contact self-proclaimed tantrics, who then begin a cycle of manipulation, fear and financial exploitation.
Victims are persuaded to spend large sums on rituals, offerings and occult ceremonies, with promises of hidden wealth that never materialises. In many cases, the deception escalates into serious crimes, including assault, extortion and murder.
