Indian police have arrested a shaman for allegedly performing exorcism in the ICU of a hospital in Pune, Maharashtra.

They are also looking for Dr Satish Chavan, a noted gynaecologist, who invited the shaman, Sachin Yerwadekar, to perform the bizarre ritual to cure his patient Sandhya Sonawane.

Both the men have been booked under a law that bans black magic.

The family of Sonawane, who had been diagnosed a lump on her chest, has lodged a complaint with the police demanding strict action against the two men.

Dr Chavan, who had been treating Sonawane, had conducted two surgeries on her at his own hospital, Chavan Nursing Home.

After her condition worsened, she was shifted to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where Dr Chavan brought in Yerwadekar to complement his treatment.

After Sandhya passed away on March 11, her brother, Mahesh Jagtap, lodged a complaint with police saying that Dr Chavan had delayed the operation of her sister waiting for an auspicious time.

Jagtap further alleged that instead of treating, Chavan had called the shaman and asked him to perform ‘exorcism’ at the ICU.