GUWAHATI: The Narsinghpur police in Madhya Pradesh have registered three rape cases against a self-styled godman’ who is in judicial custody after he was arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act for allegedly possessing weed on August 4. A separate case under the POCSO Act and section 354 of the Indian Penal Code has also been registered against the Godman for outraging the modesty of a minor.
The accused has been identified as Dharmendra Das and runs an ashram named Saket Dham in village Nandia Bilhara about 35 km from the Narsinghpur district headquarters.
“Four victims approached the Satala police station and complained of rape and molestation against Dharmendra Das who runs an ashram. On the basis of the complaints received by the police, four different cases have been registered. Out of these four cases three are for rape under section 376 of the Indian penal Code and one is under the POCSO Act and section 354 of the IPC as one of the complainant is a minor,” district SP Ajay Singh said.
According to the police Saket Dham, the ‘Godman’s’ ashram was raided on August 4 and over 2 kg weed, several pen drives, and video CDs were recovered from his possession. The godman had allegedly recorded his sexual escapades with three different women of the same village and was blackmailing them for several months.
According to sources in the district police, several villagers had complained against the godman for his activities and the alleged sexual exploitation and blackmailing of several women and minors of the village.
The police while sifting through the video evidence seized from the ashram had found the sex CDs through which the victims were being blackmailed but family members insisted that they did not want to complain because of fear of infamy and the police were left with no other choice and had to book the godman under the NDPS Act on August 4. The same day he was produced in court and was sent to judicial custody.
After going through the contents of the video CDs police approached the victims’ families and convinced them to file a formal complaint.
(INDIA TODAY)
