Promising miracle, godman takes 17-year-old girl to his residence, rapes her

Mumbai/Nagpur: A self-proclaimed godman named Somraj Gavai allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl twice at his Bhiwsenkhori residence on the outskirts of the city two days ago, said reports. The godman was arrested on Saturday along with his accomplice Sarika Borkar, the latter being booked for abetment of crime, cops were quoted as saying. Some aphrodisiacs and material used for black magic rituals were seized from Gavai's place. Some reports suggest that the godman raped the teenager on the pretext of a miracle that her uncle and aunt would accept her boyfriend. The duo was produced before a local court yesterday which remanded Gavai in police custody till April 28 and sent Sarika in magisterial custody. The girl's uncle had asked Gavai to help her forget her boyfriend with the help of some rituals. Police said Gavai criminally assaulted her twice, while promising to conjure special divine power that would make her uncle and aunt accept her boyfriend. Later, the girl informed her uncle and aunt about the offence. Her angry relatives and neighbours yesterday beat up the godman. However, police reached the spot and arrested him. Gavai was booked for rape and under relevant sections of Protection of Children Against Sexual Abuse Act 2012, and Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.