Goa Police on Friday booked a priest of the Mangueshi temple in North Goa district for molesting a 26-year-old woman. The priest, Dhananjay Bhave, is yet to be arrested, reported PTI.
Ponda Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahesh Gaonkar told PTI that Bhave a first information report was registered under Section 354 (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code against Bhave after the woman filed a complaint through e-mail late on Thursday.
The woman, who is from Mumbai and currently a medical student Texas, United States, had alleged that Bhave hugged and kissed her when she was visiting the temple on June 14. In her complaint, the woman said, “… he beckoned me to come near the lockers and put his arm around my shoulder, and then proceeded to tightly hug me and then attempted to kiss me”, reported The Indian Express.
She had also approached the temple committee and complained about the incident. On July 11, the temple committee, in response to the complaint, said: “During the inquiry, the committee could not lay its hand on any dependable evidence to establish a prima facie case.”
On Thursday, Goa’s Arts and Culture Minister Govind Gaude demanded a police investigation into the allegations levelled against the priest, reported IANS.
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