Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : A 45-year-old man who claimed to be an astrologer-priest has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl after convincing her family that she needed a ritual to remove a supposed flaw in her kundali.
Alleged Sexual Assault Case in Latur: Accused Arrested
A 15-year-old girl in Latur, Maharashtra, was found to be 15 weeks pregnant following complaints of stomach pain, prompting a medical examination. The incident came to light after the girl approached the police, alleging sexual assault by a man she had consulted regarding her astrological chart, or kundali.
According to police reports, the accused, who is associated with a polytechnic institute, had informed the girl’s parents that there was an issue with her kundali that required a special ritual to resolve. The parents consented to the ritual, which took place at their home. During this event, the accused allegedly requested that the parents leave the room, during which he is said to have assaulted the girl.
The family subsequently reported the incident to law enforcement. Latur Superintendent of Police Amol Tambe confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) was filed on September 23, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspect.
Inspector Arvind Pawar from the Vivekananda police station stated that the accused has been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Maharashtra’s anti-superstition and black magic law. The accused was presented in a local court and has been remanded in police custody for four days, with his custody set to expire on Sunday.