Kerala: Priest claiming to be Ayurveda doctor arrested after patient alleges sexual assault

Written by MD Bureau Published On 2020-10-16T10:00:06+05:30 | Updated On 16 Oct 2020 10:00 AM IST

Kerala: Priest claiming to be Ayurveda doctor arrested after patient alleges sexual assault

Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala-based priest, claiming to be an Ayurveda practitioner was recently placed under arrest by police in Idukki for allegedly sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman, who consulted him for the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD).

The Ayurveda doctor has been identified as a 55-year-old priest of Panikkankudy church, a Jacobite Syrian church, in Adimaly. The doctor runs an ayurvedic clinic in Adimaly as part of the church.

Based on the complaint of the woman, the police arrested him on 12th October.

As per various media accounts, the woman was seeking medical consultation to find a treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD). In her complaint, the woman alleged that she sought medical consultation from the practitioner, and on the pretext of checking her, the practitioner touched her inappropriately.

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Hindustan Times reports that when she went to consult him last week, he touched her inappropriately and sexually assaulted her. The accused also threatened her that she must not reveal the incident or she will have to face consequences.

However, later the women narrated the experience to her parents, after which, they approached the police and filed a complaint against the ayurvedic practitioner.

Confirming the incident, an official of the Adimaly police station told The New Minute that "The woman accused the vicar of sexually assaulting her during the consultation. Following the incident, the woman, along with her parents, came to the police station to file a complaint. The accused was arrested last night. He was presented to the court and was remanded."

There is significant doubt regarding the qualification of the priest as police found that he could not provide any proof of proper authorization to prescribe Ayurveda medication.

One of the officials informed that, "It is not clear whether he has any qualifications. We have to probe that. But it is confirmed that he was practicing without proper authorization."

The accused was booked under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354 (A) (1) (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was presented before the court and was remanded.

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Source : with inputs

MD Bureau

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