# Latur Temple Priest Arrested Under POCSO For Sexually Assaulting Minor On Pretext of Horoscope Correction

> A 17-year-old minor in Latur, Maharashtra, was allegedly raped and impregnated by a temple priest under the guise of performing rituals to correct her horoscope. The accused, Rameshwar Maharaj, has been arrested under the POCSO Act and remanded to police custody.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Crime · **Published:** 2026-09-27 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/crime/latur-men-kundali-ka-dosha-dura-karane-ke-nama-para-nabaliga-se-dushkarma-aropi-pujari-rameshwar-maharaj-giraphtara-39403 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Latur Crime, Minor Assault, POCSO Act, Rameshwar Maharaj, Fake Godman, Maharashtra Police

A shocking incident of sexual abuse has come to light in the Latur district of Maharashtra, where a 17-year-old minor girl was allegedly raped by a self-styled godman. The abuse, which took place under the guise of performing religious rituals to remove astrological defects from the girl's horoscope, resulted in her pregnancy. The matter was uncovered after the victim complained of severe physical discomfort and was taken to a medical facility. Local law enforcement has moved quickly to arrest the suspect and initiate a comprehensive investigation into the exploitation of faith.

 

## Rituals Initiated on the Pretext of Horoscope Defects

The accused has been identified as Rameshwar Hanmantrao Ramdasi, who is also known locally as Rameshwar Maharaj. He had been conducting religious ceremonies and serving as a priest at a well-known local temple in Latur city for the past 30 years. Through his long-standing presence at the temple, the priest developed an acquaintance with the victim’s father, who visited the temple regularly. Over time, this acquaintance grew closer, and the priest began visiting the family's residence. During one of these visits, Rameshwar Maharaj claimed that the minor girl’s horoscope contained a severe defect. He convinced the family that the only way to ward off the negative cosmic influences was to perform special rituals. Relying on his religious authority, the family permitted him to conduct these sessions at their home. These rituals began in June, during which the accused repeatedly assaulted the minor girl in absolute secrecy, leaving the family entirely unaware of the ongoing abuse.

 

## Medical Discovery Leads to Police Arrest

The systematic exploitation continued until the teenage girl began suffering from intense stomach pain. Concerned for her health, the family took her to a government hospital for treatment. It was during the subsequent medical examination that medical professionals discovered the minor girl was pregnant. The hospital administration immediately compiled the necessary medico-legal records and notified the authorities. Based on this information, the Vivekananda Police Station registered a formal case under the POCSO Act. Armed with the medical evidence and the victim's statement, the police arrested Rameshwar Maharaj. He was subsequently produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody for four days to allow investigators to interrogate him further.

 

## Broadening the Scope of the Police Probe

As the investigation progresses, the local police are examining whether the accused has targeted other unsuspecting victims over his long career as a priest. Given his three decades of religious practice in Latur, investigators are concerned that other families might have fallen victim to similar manipulation. Sameer Singh Salve, the Deputy Superintendent of Police for Latur City, stated that the law enforcement agency is looking at the entire case from all possible angles. The police intend to thoroughly probe the priest's past activities to determine if this was an isolated incident or part of a larger pattern of exploitation under the guise of religious rituals.

## What this means for you
This incident highlights the severe dangers of blind faith and the exploitation of religious trust by fraudulent individuals targeting vulnerable minors.

- **Parental Alert:** Families must remain cautious when allowing spiritual practitioners or astrologers unsupervised access to household members. Safeguarding children from potential predators operating under religious pretexts is crucial for their safety.

- **Legal Protection:** The implementation of the strict POCSO Act ensures that crimes against minors are fast-tracked for investigation. This provides a clear mechanism for victims to seek justice against influential figures.

- **Medical Awareness:** Immediate reporting of physical discomfort in youngsters can lead to the timely detection of abuse. Healthcare providers are legally bound to report suspected minor pregnancies to protect victims.

- **Community Vigilance:** Neighbors and local organizations must foster environments where children feel safe discussing discomfort or unusual behaviors of visitors. Awareness campaigns can help dismantle the influence of fraudulent godmen.

## Why this happened
The crime occurred due to the manipulation of a family's religious beliefs and the misuse of spiritual authority by a trusted local priest.

- **Exploitation of Faith:** The accused priest used his 30-year-old reputation in Latur to gain the family's complete confidence. He fabricated a planetary defect in the minor's horoscope to establish a reason for ongoing private access.

- **Inability to Report:** The minor victim was kept silent during the months of abuse, likely due to fear or the authority commanded by the religious figure. This lack of communication delayed the discovery of the crime until physical symptoms surfaced.

- **Absence of Supervision:** The private nature of the horoscope rituals allowed the accused to assault the minor without attracting suspicion from other family members. The trust placed in the priest meant no one monitored the sessions.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where did this incident take place?
The incident occurred in the Latur district of Maharashtra.

### 2. Who is the accused, and what is his profession?
The accused is Rameshwar Hanmantrao Ramdasi, also known as Rameshwar Maharaj, who worked as a temple priest for the past 30 years.

### 3. Under what pretext did the accused assault the minor?
The accused claimed that there was a planetary defect in the 17-year-old girl's horoscope and committed the crime under the pretext of performing remedial rituals.

### 4. How was the crime discovered?
The victim suffered from severe abdominal pain and was admitted to a government hospital, where a medical examination revealed she was pregnant.

### 5. What legal action has been taken against the accused?
The Vivekananda Police registered a case under the POCSO Act, arrested the accused, and the court has remanded him to police custody for four days.

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