Bengaluru: A cycle repair shop owner posing as a 'Baba' (holy man) to steal gold ornaments from homes on the pretext of performing special rituals was arrested by the Hulimavu police Tuesday.

The accused, identified as one Dadapeer, a 49-year-old resident of Kolar, targeted middle-class families in Bengaluru and other cities by claiming he could remove evil forces and solve family problems through rituals.

After gaining the victims' trust, he would ask them to bring their jewellery for \"special puja\". During the ritual, he would keep the ornaments in a box, sprinkle turmeric and flowers, and ask the family members to step out, saying he needed to perform the ritual alone. He would later disappear with the valuables, instructing the victims not to open the box for 21 days.

Police said

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