A chilling incident in Sarai Kalan village, Khairthal-Tijara district, Rajasthan, has shocked India. On July 19, 2025, Manoj Prajapat, a 26-year-old man, allegedly murdered his 5 or 6-year-old nephew, Lokesh, in a gruesome black magic ritual aimed at reconciling with his estranged wife, Geeta. This horrific act, influenced by a tantrik named Sunil Kumar, has sparked outrage and raised questions about superstition and the enforcement of laws against human sacrifice in rural India. This blog post delves into the details of the case, verified through reliable sources, to provide an accurate and comprehensive account.
The Tragic Incident
According to reports from credible outlets like India Today and The Times of India, Manoj Prajapat lured his young nephew Lokesh to an abandoned building in Sarai Kalan village under the pretext of buying him toffees. The incident occurred on July 19, 2025. Following the advice of Sunil Kumar, a 38-40-year-old tantrik, Prajapat allegedly strangled the child and extracted blood using syringes as part of a black magic ritual. Some sources, including The Indian Express, suggest he also attempted to remove the child’s liver or heart, though this detail remains unconfirmed by police statements. The ritual reportedly required blood, an organ, and Rs 12,000 to "control" Prajapat’s wife, Geeta, who had left him after a domestic dispute.
After committing the crime, Prajapat hid Lokesh’s body in a haystack in the abandoned building. Initially, he attempted to mislead authorities by pretending to be concerned at the crime scene, but CCTV footage and inconsistencies in his account led to his arrest on July 21, 2025.
Investigation and Arrests
Following Lokesh’s disappearance, the police launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area showed Prajapat with the child, raising suspicions. During interrogation, Prajapat confessed to the crime and implicated Sunil Kumar, the tantrik who allegedly instructed him to perform the ritual. The police arrested Sunil on July 22, 2025, and recovered the syringe used to extract blood, as reported by Hindustan Times. The investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the ritual and any additional accomplices.
The Role of Superstition
This tragic case highlights the persistent issue of superstition in parts of rural India. Belief in black magic and tantrik rituals, though illegal under India’s anti-superstition laws, continues to drive heinous crimes. The Rajasthan Prevention of Witch-Hunting Act, 2015, aims to curb such practices, but enforcement remains weak in remote areas. According to a 2023 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Rajasthan reported 12 cases of human sacrifice between 2020 and 2022, underscoring the need for stronger awareness and legal action.