Lucknow: Chief priest sodomises 20-year-old youth, sexually harasses his sister; arrested

The mahant is also accused of sexually harassing the complainant’s sister inside the temple, by allegedly holding her captive in a room.Following the alleged incident, a case was registered by police against the mahant of Badi Kali Temple, Om Bharti.According to the complainant, he ran a shop in Chowk and did photography for religious functions to earn his livelihood. The complaint accused the mahant of improperly touching him on several occasions. He also said that the mahant forced him to massage his body, The Times of India reported.The youth also said that he stopped going to the Mahant as he got apprehensive. He also alleged that the mahant threatened him of harming his business, hence he started going and bearing his immoral activities.According to a report by The Times of India, the complainant said, “One day, he sodomised me. He called me the next day and presented a saree and silver ornaments to me as ‘prasad’ and asked me to keep mum on the issue.”When the youth revealed the alleged incident to his mother, she said that his sister has also been allegedly sexually assaulted by the mahant a few days back. An FIR has been registered against the mahant under the charges of indulging in the unnatural sexual act and sexual harassment act, Assistant commissioner of police, Chowk, IP Singh said.