A Chatsworth family has been cleared of allegations that they plotted to kill their spiritualist, Ashley Padayachee, in a R100 000 hit. The family, including Naresh Uthamlal, 52, his wife Asha, 49, their son Saihil, 20, and their daughter’s boyfriend Sohail Mohamed, 22, appeared in the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday, where the charges against them were withdrawn.
The allegations against the family stemmed from a dispute over a house that Padayachee claimed the Uthamlall family had verbally gifted to him. However, the family claimed that Padayachee had extorted money from them, leading to a souring of their relationship. According to Asha, Padayachee had taken large amounts of money from them for different rituals, after he led them to believe that they would become ill and die if they did not get spiritual intervention from him.
Impact on the Family
The allegations had a significant impact on the family, with Asha stating that they were shunned by relatives and the community after their arrest. The family’s businesses also suffered, with Naresh saying that clients stopped doing business with them and they suffered huge losses. The family’s reputation was also tarnished, with Naresh saying that they became outcasts in the community.
The family’s attorney, Priyanka Naicker, said that the family was relieved that the charges had been withdrawn and that they could finally clear their names. The family had spent 18 days in Westville Prison after being granted bail of R3,000 each.
Background to the Case
The family met Padayachee in 2020 after their daughter Suhanna needed spiritual help. They claimed that Padayachee had become a close family friend and that they would donate large amounts of money to his temple out of good faith. However, the relationship turned sour when Padayachee began making demands for more money, leading to the dispute over the house.
For more information on the spiritual leadership and the role of spiritualists in South African communities,
The family is now looking to move on from the ordeal and rebuild their lives. Naresh said that they were happy that their good names could be finally cleared and that they could put the chapter behind them.
- The family was arrested on October 15, 2025, at their hardware store at the Crossmoor Shopping Centre.
- The family spent 18 days in Westville Prison after being granted bail of R3,000 each.
- The allegations against the family were withdrawn in the Durban Regional Court on Tuesday.
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