Self-styled godman held 24-yr-old school teacher's rape in Janakpuri

A 41-year-old self-styled godman allegedly raped a 24-year-old school teacher inside his ashram in Janakpuri and was arrested by the cops on Sunday from Nainital. Police said that earlier, they had arrested a female accomplice of the godman and a colleague of the victim in connection with the case.

According to police, the accused have been identified as, Hari Narayan, the self-styled godman, his accomplices Sakshi and Chinmaiy Meghna, the victim's colleague. The arrest was made on a complaint by the Delhi Commission for Women after the 24-year-old school teacher approached it, alleging she was raped by Hari Narayan in an ashram in Janakpuri in July.

"We have arrested Narayan from Nainital and are bringing him to Delhi for further questioning. We had arrested the other two earlier in connection with the case," said DCP (West) Monika Bhardwaj.

The Delhi Commission of Women (DCW) had received a complaint that a woman was raped by a self-styled godman and was also molested by her colleague, a woman.

The victim used to accompany her colleague to the ashram for spiritual healing sessions. On one such visit, the 24-year-old woman was strictly advised to consume only fruits throughout the day in order to detoxify. When she reached the ashram for a healing session that evening, she met a lady who introduced herself as the godman's secretary.

The victim told her that she was tired after a long day and requested the secretary to reschedule the session, but the secretary and her colleague insisted that she attend the session and spend the night at the ashram.

At around 8.30 pm, the victim claimed that the secretary began performing the 'kriya' or healing rituals. She claimed that she was asked to lie down on the floor, while the secretary "examined her" saying that it would clear her 'chakras'.

She was then told that the godman would perform the final leg of the ritual. She was asked to take a bath and have some food. The victim claimed that the food was spiked. Her colleague, who had introduced her to the ashram, also entered the room semi-naked, while the godman followed, completely naked.

The victim alleged that her colleague touched her inappropriately and the godman raped her. The victim informed the DCW of the ordeal through an email, after which the matter was taken up by the commission and an FIR was registered at the Janakpuri police station.

PLAINT THROUGH DCW

• The victim informed the DCW of the ordeal through an email, after which the matter was taken up by the commission and an FIR was registered at the Janakpuri police station