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  On Pretext of Curing Her, Priest Drugs, Rapes Du Student; Arrested

By Shalini Narayan
Indian Express
May 17, 2011

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/On-pretext-of-curing-her--priest-drugs--rapes-DU-student--arrested/791806/

Offering to cure stress, a temple priest allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a 21-year-old Delhi University (DU) student repeatedly over the last three months in North Delhi's Timarpur area, police said.

Police said the priest allegedly videotaped the act using a hidden camera in his room inside the temple, and later threatened the girl that he would circulate it if she informed anyone.

The accused was arrested on Monday afternoon. Police are also investigating whether the priest had targeted others in a similar manner.

Police said the woman and her family informed them of the incident on Sunday.

"In her statement to the police, the victim said she and her family had been visiting the Triveni Balaji temple, situated on Lucknow road, for the past few years. Three months ago, the accused priest, identified as Dharam Prakash (50), told her parents that the woman was under stress, adding that she could be cured by him. The victim then started visiting him," said a senior police officer.

The woman told police Prakash would offer her prasad laced with sedatives, after which she would become unconscious. When she woke up, she would feel tired. He would then tell her that she was stressed, but would be cured soon.

This went on for three months, till a week ago the woman found out what was happening. "When she told Prakash she would inform the police, he threatened her, saying he had made a film of the act that he would circulate, and also that she would be killed if she informed anyone," said the officer.

 
 

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