Godman's miracle chain draws flak for Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' wife

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis' wife Amruta has come in for flak from rationalists after accepting a necklace, apparently produced from thin air by self-styled godman.

The incident occurred at an award function organised by a Pune-based educational institute.

In visuals aired non-stop by Marathi channels, the godman, Guruvanand Swami, is shown giving Amruta, a banker, a necklace, which apparently just materialises out of thin air.

Avinash Patil, president of the Committee for Eradication of Superstition in Maharashtra, said the chief minister should clarify his stand on his wife's act.

Photo: Twitter

"Fadnavis should issue a clarification on the incident. If needed, he should tender an apology," Patil said.

"We are willing to offer a Rs 21 lakh prize to the godman if he is able to perform his 'miracle' in controlled conditions as specified by us scientifically," he said.

Amruta said she does not believe in miracles.

"I offered my salutations to him as respect to an elderly person. These are values I have been brought up with and these are the values I will continue to practice," she said.

"Guruvanand Swami gave me a necklace as a blessing. I don't believe in miracles of any sort," she said.

-PTI