Chhindwara ‘kathavachak’ molests married woman, arrested

Bhopal: A 42-year-old ‘kathavachak’ (religious preacher) was arrested by Madhya Pradesh Police in Chhindwara after a 25-year-old married woman accused him of molestation during a puja at her home.

According to the woman’s complaint, the incident took place on April 25 when the accused, identified as Pandit Ganesh Prasad Saral, was invited to the house by her mother-in-law to perform a religious ritual. The woman alleged that while she was doing household chores in her room, the preacher entered and molested her. However, the complaint was lodged on May 18 at Kotwali police station.

“Following the complaint, a preliminary probe was conducted and a case was registered against the accused under relevant sections of the BNS for molestation. He was arrested late on Friday night and produced before the court, which sent him to jail. Detailed investigations are being carried out,” Kotwali police station in-charge Ashish Dhurvey told TOI.

“The crime spot was the complainant’s own house. Her mother-in-law has also admitted to calling the accused to her house for a puja when the survivor alleged in the complaint that the accused had touched her inappropriately,” Dhurvey said.

Police arrested the preacher after a six-day religious discourse event held in Chhindwara concluded and devotees had dispersed from the venue. He was produced before a local court on Saturday, which remanded him to judicial custody.

The religious programme, organised in the city, had been drawing large crowds daily. Sources said police reached the venue late at night when only members of the organising committee and a few followers were present.