A 26-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly cheating a woman for the past two years by claiming to be an avatar of Lord Sri Krishna.

This is the first case in the city in which a person has been booked under the newly formed Anti-Superstition and Black Magic ordinance. The police have also alleged that the person had molested her teenage daughter.

The arrested person has been identified as Manan Dave, a B Com graduate who had dropped out in the second year of LLB.

According to senior police inspector Anand Koli of Charkop police station, the 45-year old complainant lives with her husband and 18-year-old daughter at Charkop in Kandivli. Dave, who stays in the same locality, is a lawyer’s son. Two years ago, the complainant’s husband met Dave during a religious meeting.

Dave claimed to be Krishna’s avatar who possessed divine powers.

“Dave had been visiting the woman’s home regularly between 8am and 10pm. During this period, he told the family that there are several hindrances in their home. He also gave the family a set of diet rules. Dave also made the complainant sell her gold for Rs8lakh and took the money,” said Koli.

He added during this period he also allegedly molested the complainant’s daughter on several occasions.

“When this incident came to the woman’s notice, she lodged a complaint with the police. We have booked and arrested Dave on charges of cheating, molestation under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Anti-Superstition Act. He was produced in a local court on Sunday which remanded him to police custody till September 12,” said Koli.