Mangaluru's Kateel temple priest arrested for allegedly raping teenage house-help​

A priest at Muzrai temple in Dakshina Kannada district was arrested for sexually assaulting a teenage housekeeping staff.

The 56-year-old assistant priest, identified as Harishchandra Bhat alias Appu Bhat worked at the Kateel Durgaparmeshwari temple and was a resident of Kateel in Mangaluru​. The victim was a househelp at Bhat’s house, reported Udayavani.

Times o​f India reported that Bhat, who recently lost his wife, had been sexually abusing the girl since September and eventually impregnated her. The 19-year-old girl was his neighbour and worked at Bhat’s house owing to financial difficulties in her family.

Bhat, who lives with his two daughters, reportedly is suffering from psychiatric problem, reported TOI.

According to Udayavani, Bhat threatened the girl and forced her to come for work. She also went in for an abortion to a private hospital in Mangaluru four months ago. However, the doctors refused to abort the child.

Bhat was kidnapped by victim’s relatives and was kept in a secret location. Following this Bhat’s relatives filed a complaint.

Bajpe police has registered a case against the priest under various sections of IPC including rape. Bhat has been produced before the JMFC court which has remanded judicial custody, reported TOI.

This is an aggregated report from Udayavani and Times of India​