Seer held on charge of sexually exploiting woman on promise of marriage
A 45-year-old seer in India has been arrested following allegations of sexual exploitation and criminal intimidation. The victim claims the accused promised marriage but later threatened her when she confronted him.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing issues regarding the abuse of power by religious figures and the legal response to gender-based violence.
The North East Women Police on Monday (October 12) arrested a 45-year-old seer of the Maddavanapura Devaveera Samsthana Mutt for allegedly sexually exploiting a 25-year-old woman on the promise of marriage, refusing to marry her later and threatening her with dire consequences.
The case was registered on October 8, based on a complaint by the victim.
According to the FIR, the main accused, Guru Nanjeshwara Shivacharya Mahaswamy, also known as Dayananda, is the head of the mutt. The complainant, who said she had known the seer and his family for years, had lived with her aunt in a house belonging to the mutt since she was about 10 years old. She studied at the mutt’s school and college.
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