Lilavati Hospital black magic case: Court quashes summons against former trustee
Mumbai: The Greater Mumbai Sessions Court at Mazgaon has quashed the summons issued against a former permanent trustee in the Lilavati Hospital black magic case, observing that merely finding ritual pots (kalash) buried beneath the floor does not constitute a criminal offence.
Additional Sessions Judge Kunal Dhanaji Jadhav allowed Criminal Revision Application No. 01 of 2026 and set aside the order passed on December 8, 2025, by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, 12th Court, Bandra, Mumbai.
According to an IANS report, a complaint had been filed by Prashant Mehta, in which he claimed to be a permanent trustee of the Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust. In the complaint, he alleged that after taking over the trust's administration following a Supreme Court order dated September 18, 2023, eight copper pots were discovered beneath the floor of his cabin on September 21, 2024.
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He alleged that the pots contained human remains, rice, hair, ash and other materials suspected to be associated with black magic rituals. He further accused certain former management members of allegedly performing occult practices to gain supernatural blessings and cause harm to the trustees.
However, the Sessions Court identified several shortcomings in the complaint and the evidence presented, observing that there was no clear explanation of who buried the pots, when they were buried or what specific role each accused allegedly played.
The court also underlined the absence of forensic evidence that could establish whether the recovered bones were human remains or whether the hair and other materials were linked to any unlawful activity, reports IANS.
What is also important is that the judge remarked that burying ritual pots containing rice, sacred water, coins or other materials can form part of customary Hindu practices associated with Vastu and religious ceremonies.
The court asserted that such practices cannot automatically be treated as criminal acts without evidence of prohibited conduct or an intention to cause harm, deception or fear.
Concluding that the magistrate's summoning order was legally unsustainable and lacked sufficient grounds, the Sessions Court allowed the revision application and quashed the summons against the former permanent trustee.
