Mumbai crime: Coconut oil and mud sold as miracle medicine

Accused Ajay Sonawane

The Malad police has busted a racket of adulterated Ayurveda medicine sale. Though main accused Ajay Sonawane is absconding, they have managed to arrest two men, who worked as agents for Sonawane, and were responsible for luring patients. The gang would mix ash, sand and mud in coconut oil and sell it as a miraculous Ayurvedic cure.

Accused Ajay Sonawane

According to police sources, the trio had cheated scores of unassuming people and had made good money. The two arrested agents have been identified as Suresh Lokhande, 38, and Bhujang Dasorjogi, 33, both residents of Shrirampur district, Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.

The police got on its case when a complaint was registered by Goregaon-based couple Yusuf Kanchwala, 78, and wife Phatima, 55. The two claimed they had been cheated of R2.40 lakh by Sonawane, who ran an Ayurveda clinic named Sanjivini Ayurveda Distributer, at Mitesh Apartments on SV Road, Malad (West).

According to police sources, Suresh Lokhande met Yusuf Kaanchwal last year at a mall in Goregaon. After Kaanchwala told him that he and his wife were suffering from joint pain, the accused claimed that Sonawane could heal them. Sonawane took R2.40 lakh and in turn offered the medicine. He wasn't to be seen after that at the clinic.

Kanchwala lodged a complaint against the duo on February 18 at Malad Police station. According to police officer Hasan Mulani, "Lokhande and Dasorjogi used to strike a conversation with people, and if anyone mentioned an illness, they would refer them to Sonawane. In December, they vacated the clinic and disappeared. Kanchwala tried contacting them. Ever since, more people have registered complaints against the fake centre."

The police has registered a case against Sonawne and the agents under Section 420 and 34 of IPC, and the Maharashtra Ayurveda Adhiniyam Act 1961.