Police in Nashik district, Maharashtra, arrested 31-year-old self-proclaimed godman Maheshgiri alias Mahesh Kakde for sexually assaulting a 28-year-old woman and taking objectionable photographs of her. The incident took place in 2024, and a local court remanded him in police custody until April 29. Activists from the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti helped the victim come forward with her complaint.
The victim's parents took her to Shri Datta Devsthan Mutt in Dharangaon (Khadak) village near Lasalgaon in Niphad taluka of Nashik district in 2024 to resolve her family problems. There, she met Maheshgiri, who claimed to have divine powers and could cure people, police said.
He told her she was affected by evil powers and made her perform rituals. He then began sending obscene messages to her mobile phone and gradually started sexually exploiting her. Police stated he took her to a lodge, sexually assaulted her, and clicked objectionable photographs.
The victim did not disclose her ordeal initially. Activists from the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, an anti-superstition organisation, learned about it and gained her confidence, leading her to file a complaint.
A rape case was registered against the accused on Wednesday night, along with charges under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. He was arrested late Thursday night and remanded in police custody till April 29 by a local court.
