A godman has been arrested by the Chennai police for allegedly raping a 19-year-old mentally challenged girl, on the pretext of performing a puja to heal the girl.

On Thursday, the girl complained of stomach ache and when she was taken to hospital, the doctors found that she was pregnant but unmarried and mentally challenged, according to The New Indian Express. The hospital then alerted the Chennai police.

The mother of the girl told the police that she knew about the rape but chose to keep it hidden. The incident happened when she visited a temple in Melmalayanur in Villupuram along with her daughter. The mother has also been taken into custody.

The godman was identified as Karthikeyan (30). The investigating officer told The New Indian Express that the godman used to meet people at a private lodge near the temple.

A few months ago, the mother was asked by the godman to bring her daughter for treatment.  He sent the girl’s mother to buy puja material and raped her daughter while she was away. Later, he also began visiting their house in Chennai, police sources told TNIE.

The woman was working as a daily wage labourer. Her husband had left her a few years ago.