Sexual assault under the guise of puja: US-born priest arrested in Canada

 

 

A US-born priest who sexually assaulted a young woman on the pretext of conducting spiritual rituals has been arrested in Oshawa, Canada. The Durham Regional Police have taken into custody Rajendranath Dudnath Maharaj, a resident of Richmond Hill, New York. The complainant's family had invited him to Canada from the United States for spiritual rituals.
The man committed the assault by making the young woman believe that she was possessed by evil spirits and that special rituals were necessary to get rid of this.

Police said that he took the young woman to a private place on the pretext of a spiritual ceremony and then sexually assaulted her. Based on a complaint received on Tuesday, August 25, the police reached the spot and arrested the accused. He has been charged with sexual assault and produced in court for bail.

Durham Police suspect that he may have abused more people in a similar manner, as he travels internationally for spiritual work. The investigation into the case is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact Durham Regional Police or the Criminal Investigation Branch.