Self-styled godman, two women arrested for allegedly raping teacher in Delhi’s Janakpuri
New Delhi, Oct 01: A self-styled godman and his woman secretary have been arrested for allegedly raping a 24-year-old private school teacher at his ashram in west Delhi’s Janakpuri in July, police said on Sunday.
While the alleged godman, 40-year-old Hari Narayan, allegedly raped the woman after spiking her food, his secretary too assisted him in the crime and touched the woman inappropriately, Monika Bhardwaj, deputy commissioner of police (west), said.
The police have also arrested the victim’s female colleague for allegedly luring her to the ashram. “The colleague was also present at the crime scene,” said the DCP.
Police said the woman, a Uttar Pradesh resident, works at a private school. “When the woman shared some of her personal problems with her colleague, she advised her to go through a spiritual healing experience at an ashram in Janakpuri,” said an investigator.
Claiming that she too had been healed “miraculously”, the colleague allegedly recommended visiting Hari Narayan who runs a small “spiritual centre” named Aadya Param Yog Peeth in Janakpuri.
The woman and her colleague visited the Ashram on July 10. Prior to that, the colleague had allegedly instructed her to eat only fruits for “detoxification”.
At the ashram, the duo was greeted by 38-year-old Sakshi, who had been working as Narayan’s secretary for the last four years. “Before the woman could meet Narayan, his secretary drew her into hours-long conversations, leaving her physically and mentally drained,” said an investigator quoting the victim.
The woman wanted to return home without meeting Narayan but was allegedly convinced by her colleague and the secretary to stay back at the ashram for the night.
The “healing”—which began with the woman being asked to bathe and have dinner, which, she alleged, was laced with sedatives -- started at 8.30pm. Thereafter, Narayan allegedly raped the woman in front of the secretary and the colleague.
According to the DCP, the woman wasn’t sure how to react to the offence until a week ago when she decided to write an email to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). The DCW officials helped the woman approach police following which a case of rape and criminal conspiracy was registered at Janakpuri police station on Friday.
The DCP said Narayan was arrested from Haldwani in Uttarakhand and the two women were arrested from Delhi on Sunday.
Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
