Karnataka Priest Held For 'Rape, Extortion': 'Lured Devotee With Promise Of Rituals To Solve Her Problems'

39-year-old priest, identified as Dayanand, accused of raping 28-year-old devotee more than once. He even allegedly filmed the assault.

The accused was produced in court and was given five-day police custody for further interrogation.

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A temple priest was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly raping a woman and extorting money from her in Karnataka’s Hassan. The priest is accused of raping the 28-year-old devotee more than once, and filming the assault.

The woman would often visit a local temple, where the priest served, to perform puja. In April, she reportedly started speaking to the accused regarding some personal problems. The priest, identified as Dayanand, told her that certain rituals needed to be performed to solve her problems, to which the woman agreed, The New Indian Express reported. According to a Hindustan Times report, the 39-year-old priest is alleged to have first raped her on May 24, when he invited her to participate in a ceremony at an acquaintance’s house in HSR Layout in Bengaluru. Instead of the promised destination, the priest allegedly headed for the Mysuru Road, and raped her inside his car.

Quoting the devotee's complaint, a Bagalgunte police officer told HT that Dayanand later threatened to release morphed pictures of her on social media to extort Rs 40,000 from her. In the ensuing days, he reportedly continued to harass her by going to her workplace. According to The New Indian Express, he raped her twice more by forcibly taking her to a hotel, and made a video. He further threatened her to extort another Rs 86,000.

Speaking to HT, Bagalagunte police said a case was registered against Dayanand on Monday and he was arrested on Tuesday. He has been booked under BNS sections 64 (punishment for rape), 308(2)(punishment for extortion), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 66E(Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017.

The accused was produced in court and was remanded in five-day police custody for further interrogation. The police are also investigating whether the accused had sexually harassed other devotees and extorted money from them.