According to media reports, nashik Astrologer ashok kharat was allegedly distributing tamarind seeds as gemstones to his followers.
He would allegedly purchase the tamarind seeds at a low price from suppliers, and then sell it at a very high price to his followers, allegedly claiming that they were gemstones.
Most people in India are impressed by people who are charming and good speakers like kharat, ruchika kinger which could be the reason why they blindly believed him.
Many widely available seeds like tamarind and chikoo seeds are shiny black, attractive and some people like to collect the seeds.
Some plants have red and black or orange and black seeds.