A shocking case has emerged from Latur in Maharashtra, where a 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a self-styled godman who claimed that a defect in her horoscope, or “kundali dosh”, could be corrected through special rituals. Police arrested the accused after the teenager became pregnant and the alleged incident came to light.
According to police officials quoted by PTI, the accused has been identified as Rameshwar Maharaj, a resident of the Thakre Chowk area of Latur. Police said that the man convinced the minor that there was a problem in her kundali and that some rituals were necessary to remove the supposed affliction. The alleged crime took place in June this year.
Family Approached the Accused Over Horoscope
According to the complaint and police account reported in the media, the accused was known to the girl’s family and had gained their confidence through his claimed religious and ritualistic practices.
The girl's parents had approached him about her horoscope. He told them that her kundali contained a defect that had to be corrected through a special religious procedure.
The accused then visited the family’s home to carry out the ritual, police say, and took advantage of the situation and sexually assaulted the teenager.
The case has raised concern about the manipulation of religion by people to manipulate beliefs and the trust placed in them by families who want to solve personal or astrological problems.
Alleged Threat After The Assault
Police said the accused allegedly told the girl not to reveal what had happened. He warned her that if she spoke about the incident, the alleged problem in her horoscope would return.
The teenager remained silent for some time about the alleged assault.
The case eventually came to light after the girl became pregnant. Reports said she felt ill and was taken for medical examination, when she was found to have pregnancy. She later reported the alleged assault to her family, and the matter was reported to the police.
Police Register Case Under POCSO
After the complaint, the police filed a case against the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Police also cited provisions of Maharashtra’s law for preventing and eradicating human sacrifice and other inhuman, evil and Aghori practices and black magic. Sub-Inspector A.K. Kale also confirmed registration of the case under these laws.
Since the alleged victim is 17 years old, the case falls under India's child protection framework. The POCSO Act provides specific legal protections for children against sexual offences.
Police are investigating the allegations and gathering evidence related to the case. The minor's identity has not been disclosed in media reports so as to preserve her privacy.
Accused Arrested And Sent To Police Custody
Rameshwar Maharaj was arrested by police on Wednesday, September 23, according to reports by the police.
He was brought to a local court. That court remanded him to police custody for four days, so investigators could question him and collect evidence in the case.
Police will probe the circumstances of the alleged assault, the accused’s interactions with the family and the claims he allegedly made regarding the girl’s horoscope.
Investigators may also look at whether similar complaints have been made against the accused. Police are investigating the matter from multiple angles and whether other people could have been targeted through similar claims.
Focus turns to Exploitation of Faith
The Latur case has once again raised fears about people using claims of supernatural powers, black magic or religious remedies to exploit vulnerable people.
Seeking religious or astrological guidance is a personal choice, but claims that a serious personal problem can be solved through rituals should not be used as a means to isolate, threaten or exploit another person. In this case, police say the accused presented the claim of correcting a horoscope defect as a justification for sexual assault against the victim.
Maharashtra has legislation specifically for human sacrifice and some inhuman, evil and Aghori practices and black magic. Police have included provisions of that law in the case along with the BNS and POCSO Act.
Investigation Underway
The allegations in the case are now subject to police investigation and judicial proceedings. The arrest and police remand do not by themselves establish guilt, and the allegations will be tested through the legal process.
But for the family of the teenager, the case has brought a very disturbing accusation to light. Authorities were investigating how the accused gained the family’s trust, what happened in that purported ritual and whether there’s any evidence supporting the teenager’s complaint.
And the Latur case reminds us that claims of supernatural cures or horoscope-based remedies should never supersede a person’s safety or dignity. With the accused in police custody, investigators are still investigating the assault and the circumstances surrounding the teenager's pregnancy.
