Bengaluru: Pregnant teen accuses yoga teacher of rape; alleges promise of medal, placement

BENGALURU: A 19-year-old girl filed a complaint against a yoga teacher who owns a training institute in west Bengaluru, accusing him of raping her by promising her a national medal and placement.Police registered a case under BNS Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.), 75 (sexual harassment), and under Pocso Act on Aug 30. They are trying to trace the accused teacher.The girl told police she has been practising yoga for many years. The accused teacher is the secretary of an association and knew her since 2019. She started participating in yoga events from 2021. In Nov 2023, when she was 17, she went to Thailand along with the teacher to participate in a yoga event. She alleged that he sexually harassed her in Thailand, forcing her to quit the event. In 2024, she joined the institute for yoga training, which belonged to the same accused. He again sexually harassed the girl by promising to get her a national medal in a competition and gave assurances of placement. The last time he had sex with her was on Aug 22, she said in her complaint.A senior police officer said the incident came to light after the girl conceived. She hadn't informed her parents about the sexual harassment she'd faced and the promises about a medal. The girl said she will provide names of six to seven girls who were sexually abused like her. (The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)