In an extraordinary incident that has attracted public attention, Chikkaballapur City Police have arrested a 65-year-old woman, Manjula, for performing black magic rituals on the chair of the 1st Additional Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka.
Police officials said the incident came to light after court staff noticed suspicious objects and materials placed near or on the judge's chair in the courtroom. Court officials immediately contacted the local police and an investigation was launched.
After preliminary investigation and examination of available evidence, police identified Manjula as the prime suspect. She was taken into custody for questioning. The woman is believed to have entered the court premises and done rituals investigators believe are associated with black magic or superstitious practices.
The true motives behind the alleged act have not yet been established. The accused is being questioned by investigators to determine whether she did it independently or if anyone else was involved. Police are also looking into whether the ritual was meant to influence any ongoing legal proceedings or was motivated by a personal grievance.
The specific materials from the courtroom have not been disclosed given the investigation is ongoing, and authorities did not know exactly what material was recovered from the courtroom. But officials said all relevant evidence had been collected and recorded in the case.
Because of the sensitive nature of the site, the incident has been a big topic. Courts are institutions of justice and impartiality and any attempt to interfere with them in any way—whether through unlawful acts, intimidation or superstitious practices—is taken seriously by law enforcement agencies.
Police officials stressed that the investigation is being carried out according to legal procedure and all aspects of the incident are being investigated.
Karnataka has legislation that has been passed to prevent harmful superstitious practices and protect people from exploitation committed in the name of black magic or occult rituals. No matter what culture and religion one has, there has always been the belief that any act that is not as legal as necessary, threatens public institutions or causes fear or harm will be prosecuted.
Legal experts say any alleged attempt to interfere with judicial institutions is taken seriously because public confidence in the justice system depends on the independence and dignity of the courts. Even where the belief in supernatural practices is involved, investigators look for whether laws were violated or whether there was an intention to disrupt public institutions.
#WATCH | Karnataka | Chikkaballapur City Police arrest a 65-year-old woman, identified as Manjula, for allegedly performing black magic on the chair of the 1st Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC Court in Chikkaballapur.
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2026
CCTV footage captured the woman allegedly sprinkling… pic.twitter.com/7urZKOb7wa
The arrest has aroused much public interest at home with many people surprised by the nature of the allegations. The judicial system is the process of law, the officials said.
Police will continue to collect evidence, record witness statements and, if available, examine camera footage from the court premises to reconstruct the sequence of events. Depending on the evidence gathered, additional legal provisions can be invoked if investigators discover evidence of criminal trespass, intimidation, or any other offence.
The case also illustrates the necessity of security in court complexes. Judicial institutions frequently review safety measures to ensure that unauthorized activities are not conducted in their premises. This kind of incident will make authorities more aggressive in surveillance, access control and coordination with court administration and local police.
As the investigation continues, officials hope that once facts are verified, they can share more details. The 65-year-old woman’s arrest is just the start of a legal process that will determine what happened.
