Acharya held in Ujjain ashram sexual abuse case
INDORE/UJJAIN: The absconding 'acharya' accused of sexually abusing minor boys in an ashram in Ujjain has been arrested by Mahakal police.
"Acting on a tip off, the 28-year-old Acharya was arrested from Ashta (115km away)," said Mishra.
On Wednesday, Mahakal police had booked the 'acharya' and a 25-year-old teacher of an ashram in Ujjain for allegedly sodomizing minor students after three minors - aged 12 to 14 - mustered courage to complain.
"Acting on a tip off, the 28-year-old Acharya was arrested from Ashta (115km away)," said Mishra.
On Wednesday, Mahakal police had booked the 'acharya' and a 25-year-old teacher of an ashram in Ujjain for allegedly sodomizing minor students after three minors - aged 12 to 14 - mustered courage to complain.
A case was registered under IPC sections 377 for unnatural sex and Pocso Act. The teacher was arrested but the acharya went on the run, say police.
The acharya was produced before special Pocso court judge Kirti Kashyap and sent to jail.
Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma has formed a six-member SIT, led by CSP OP Mishra, to investigate the case. Mahakal inspector Ajay Verma is part of the team.
CSP Mishra said that the director of the ashram had come to know of the incident 12 days ago and terminated the acharya after which he fled Ujjain. The director tried to hold talks with family members of the boys.
The acharya was produced before special Pocso court judge Kirti Kashyap and sent to jail.
Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma has formed a six-member SIT, led by CSP OP Mishra, to investigate the case. Mahakal inspector Ajay Verma is part of the team.
CSP Mishra said that the director of the ashram had come to know of the incident 12 days ago and terminated the acharya after which he fled Ujjain. The director tried to hold talks with family members of the boys.
Ashram abuse: Cops meet other students
On Thursday, police personnel went to the ashram in plainclothes and spoke to 16 students about the accused to find out if they had sexually misbehaved with them any time in the past few years. CSP Mishra said the team will meet the students again.
Two children alleged that their teacher sexually misbehaved with them when they woke up early in morning for religious studies and ‘path’. They said the duo tried to pressure them into sexual acts but they refused.
Another 14-year-old told the magistrate that the acharya called him to his room for dinner and “proposed marriage”. He refused and left the room. The acharya called him back, locked the room and sodomized him, he said. The survivor said he was threatened with dire consequences if he spoke about the abuse to anyone.
All three minors mustered courage and called their families using the phone of a friend’s parents who had come to meet him in the ashram. The boys’ parents approached Mahakal police station where a case was registered late on Tuesday.
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