Bengaluru widow accuses two Kerala temple priests of blackmail; one nabbed
The woman, identified as Ratna, a resident of Bellandur, lodged a complaint at Bellandur Police Station, prompting the arrest of one priest
In a case of alleged blackmail and sexual exploitation, a widow from Bengaluru has accused two priests from a well-known temple in Thrissur, Kerala, of coercing her into a nude video call and attempting to sexually assault her.
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The woman, identified as Ratna, a resident of Bellandur, lodged a complaint at Bellandur Police Station, prompting the arrest of one priest, according to an India Today report. The chief priest remains absconding.
Seeking spiritual aid
Ratna, who lost her husband in 2016, has been raising her two children alone while facing emotional and financial distress. In her search for spiritual help, she found the Peringottukara Temple on Instagram and reached out, convinced that black magic had been performed against her.
She was reportedly contacted by a priest identified as Arun, who promised to conduct a ritual to remove the supposed curse in exchange for Rs 24,000, as per the report. According to the complaint, he took her contact number and began calling her through WhatsApp at night, allegedly appearing nude on video and demanding that she do the same as part of the ritual.
When Ratna refused, Arun allegedly threatened to carry out a “reverse ritual” that would harm her children. Fearing for their safety, she complied. The priest purportedly recorded the video and used it to blackmail her into travelling to Kerala to meet him.
Sexual assault bid
In Kerala, Ratna alleged that she was taken to a room at the temple by priest Arun and chief priest Unni Damodaran, where both men allegedly behaved in an obscene manner and tried to sexually assault her. She returned to Bengaluru and submitted evidence to the police, including screenshots, call logs, and audio recordings.
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Following the complaint, the police arrested priest Arun. The chief priest, Unni Damodaran, is currently on the run, and a manhunt has been launched to locate him.
Police sources also revealed there were contradictory statements from the complainant in the case. A thorough investigation is expected to reveal more details and establish the full facts.