Love for luxury cars lands astrologer in jail

A fad for high end luxury vehicles landed this famed TV astrologer in the police's net. Nishit Sastri, 41, a resident of Chatikara in Vrindavan, UP who had predicted a fatal accident for Prime Minister Modi in 2015, was arrested for buying stolen high end vehicles from a taxi driver in Delhi. A BMW, an Audi and a Volkswagen worth crores are among the vehicles recovered from him.

An astrologer cum palmist by profession, Sastri claims to have studied finance at IIM Ahmedabad. He performs shows on astrology on some news and religious channels, and also deals in property.

According to a senior police officer, Sastri used to buy luxury stolen cars from Joy Vig, a 54-year-old taxi driver from Faridabad, to impress his clients, DCP south, Romil Baaniya said Jog was a habitual offender involved in murder, snatching and auto lifting cases. He was first arrested in 1995 in an auto theft case and later declared a wanted criminal.

Explaining how they had caught Vig, the DCP said, "It was on Feb 20, when information was received about movement of an auto lifter with a Toyota Innova car near Hauz Khas in south Delhi.

The identified vehicle was soon intercepted by a police team and one Joy Vig, the driver, was arrested. A Toyota Innova Crysta which he was driving, found to be stolen from RK Puram, was recovered."

On questioning, Vig disclosed that he had stolen several other cars and sold them to a person namely Nitesh Shastri in Vrindavan. "A team departed for Vrindavan and raided the identified address from where Sastri was arrested. Three stolen luxury cars, a BMW 5-Series, an Audi Q-3 and a Volkswagen Vento were recovered from his possession," Baaniya said.

The DCP said, "It was on Feb 20, when information was received about movement of an auto lifter with a Toyota Innova car near Hauz Khas in south Delhi. The identified vehicle was soon intercepted by a police team and one Joy Vig, the driver, was arrested. A Toyota Innova Crysta which he was driving, found to be stolen from RK Puram, was recovered."

Police found that Vig worked as a taxi driver and used to lure drivers of high end luxury cars by promising them jobs at good pay. After gaining their confidence, he used to ask for a test drive and then flee with the cars along with original key. "Vig used to sell cars to Sastri, who after using them sold them further by changing their documents along with original key across India. Their main area of operation was Delhi NCR," the officer added.

PRESIDENTIAL AWARD?

DNA also found out that Sastri claims to have received an award by then President Pratibha Patil in 2008. He also has a picture with her on his Facebook page.

WHO IS NISHIT SASTRI?

Sastri made headlines when on February 20, 2015, he predicted on his Facebook page, "It's my small astrological prediction PM Modi will have fatal accident or mishaps and Terrorist attack between 12th Aug 2015 to 15th Sep 2016 on him. If this prediction goes true, then accept me of having great knowledge of Astrology.