Self-styled godman Swami Vairagyanand Giri has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman devotee in Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal, police said on Tuesday.
Swami Vairagyanand Giri was arrested from Gwalior in connection with a case registered against him under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, and is being brought to Bhopal, additional commissioner of police (ACP) Richa Choubey said.
According to a complaint lodged by the woman devotee on Monday, the accused godman had raped her in Bhopal on July 17, she said.
The complainant said that she had been childless for a long time after marriage and had come in contact with Giri, who promised that she would conceive through some rituals, the official said.
The woman has alleged that the godman raped her when she fainted after consuming an offering given by him, she said.
The victim has claimed that she could not lodge a complaint immediately out of fear of social stigma, the official said.
Notably, Giri had supported the Congress in the last state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
The godman had organised a yagna for the victory of Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh in the Lok Sabha polls and had announced to take "samadhi" (entombment) following a failed prediction of his victory.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Police Arrests Self-Styled Godman For Sexually Assaulting Women Self-Styled Godman Rapes Woman In Name Of Rituals, Arrested: Mumbai Cops Self-Styled Godman Arrested For Sexually Exploiting Children In UP, Denied Bail Spoke Of Reunification Under India: Sources On Lalduhoma's Viral Old Speech "Cowardly Attempts To Intimidate Diplomats": PM's 1st Comments On Canada Row All-New Royal Enfield Flying Flea Electric C6 Motorcycle Revealed What If The US Election Ends In A Trump-Kamala Harris Tie? Abortion Rights Issue Influencing Indian American Women's Voting Preference Israel Says Hit Hezbollah Intel Headquarters In Syria Strike Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.