Ghaziabad police on Saturday arrested four individuals accused of murdering a man to use his skull in black magic rituals for monetary gain. Five and a half months after the crime, the victims skull also recovered.The main accused, Pawan, reportedly planned the murder after watching YouTube videos on black magic and the potential to earn millions through skull-based rituals. He convinced others, including his brother Pankaj and associates Narendra, Vikas, and Dhananjay, to join the plot.Crime inspired by black magic videosOn June 22, 2024, the decapitated body of the victim, identified as Raju, a resident of Bihars Motihari district, was discovered in Ghaziabads Tila Mod area. Following an investigation, police had earlier arrested two suspects, Vikas and Dhananjay, in August. The recent arrests have completed the case, bringing the total number of accused to six.According to the police, Dhananjay exploited Rajus addiction to alcohol, keeping him intoxicated for five days before strangling him. His associates then mutilated the body, removing the skull and discarding the remains. They planned to sell the skull for ₹5 lakh, but the transaction failed when the buyer claimed it was damaged.Arrests and evidence recoveryDCP Trans-Hindon Nimish Patil revealed that Vikas, alias Paramatma, was arrested from Delhi with a ₹25,000 bounty on his head. Pawan, who claimed to be a black magic practitioner, used his connection with lift operator Narendra to lure others into the plot.The skull, painted red for rituals, was discarded in a drain near Majlis Park Metro Station after the plan failed. It was later recovered based on information provided by Pankaj. Police have also seized a monkeys skull, hinting at previous animal sacrifices.YouTube: Catalyst for crimePawan admitted to being inspired by videos detailing black magic rituals promising wealth. DNA testing will confirm the skulls identity while police continue their investigation to build a strong case against the accused.
