Godman rapes girl for 8 months in captivity; arrested

LUCKNOW: A self-styled godman was arrested by Sitapur police on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a 21-year-old girl for eight months in captivity at a degree college in the neighbouring district. Police also booked godman's woman devotee for abetting to commit the crime.

Identified as Baba Siyaram Das, the 60-year-old godman runs multiple educational institutes including some degree colleges. He also has stakes in several properties located at Lucknow, Barabanki, Agra and Hathras districts.

The dalit girl told the police that her distant cousin Anokhe along with two more persons brokered a deal with Rintoo Singh, an ardent devotee of the Baba and manager of Shri Chandra Bhagwan inter college in Mishrikh area of the district owned by the cult godman, in exchange of money.

Rintoo had introduced the the girl to the godman last year. According to woman's complaint, her cousin took money from Siyaram and Rintoo before disappearing.

Siyaram kept the girl in captivity and asked one of his followers to keep an eye on her.

"I was subjected to a lot of torture," the girl said before reporters in Sitapur adding that strangers used to exploit her too.

The matter came into light after the girl dialed up police control room late on Monday night.

A team led by SHO, Mishrikh police station, Ashok Kumar Singh nabbed the baba from Agra where he had gone with his close accomplices to settle a property dispute.

"A report will be sent to district magistrate to check Siyaram's assets and verify the properties he owned in Sitapur," said Singh.

The police took some clothes from Siyaram's bedroom in the college into custody.

Police were looking for Rintoo and girl's cousin.