Anotherself-proclaimed godmanhas been arrested in Maharashtra’s Nashik district for allegedly sexually exploiting a 28-year-old woman under the guise of performing spiritual rituals. The accused, as per a PTI report, identified as Maheshgiri alias Mahesh Kakde (31), was taken into custody late Thursday (April 23) night and has been remanded in police custody till April 29 by a local court.
Police said the case began as asearch for spiritual helpbut escalated into sexual exploitation over several months. The victim, who was reportedly facing family problems, was taken by her parents in 2024 to a Shri Datta Devsthan Mutt in Dharangaon (Khadak) village near Lasalgaon in Niphad taluka. There she first came into contact with the accused, who claimed to possess divine healing powers.
According to investigators, Maheshgiri convinced the woman that she was under the influence of evil forces and persuaded her to perform rituals. Gradually, he began sending obscene messages and escalating the abuse.
“He told her that he has divine powers and can cure people. He convinced the woman that she had been affected by evil powers and forced her to do some rituals. After that, he started sending obscene and objectionable messages on her mobile phone. Slowly, he started sexually exploiting her. He took her to a lodge, where he sexually assaulted her and took her objectionable photographs,” police said, PTI reported.
The victim initially did not report the abuse due to fear and stigma.
The case came to light after members of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an anti-superstition organisation, learnt about the exploitation and intervened. They helped the woman gain confidence, after which she filed a formal complaint with the police.
Following the complaint, a rape case was registered against Maheshgiri, along with charges under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether other victims were similarly targeted and whether the accused used his position at the mutt to systematically exploit vulnerable women seeking spiritual solutions.
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