Monika Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), said on Sunday (September 30, 2018) that self-styled godman Hari Narayan and his woman secretary Sakshi have been arrested for raping a 24-year-old private school teacher in July at his ashram in west Delhi’s Janakpuri.

According to an Investigating Officer “When the woman shared some of her personal problems with her colleague, she advised her to go through a spiritual healing experience at an ashram in Janakpuri.”

The victims colleague claimed that she was also healed “miraculously” and recommended her to visit Hari Narayan who runs a small “spiritual centre” named Aadya Param Yog Peeth in Janakpuri.

The 40 year old alleged godman raped the woman after spiking her food and his secretary too assisted him in the crime and touched the woman inappropriately, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) said.

On July 10, 2018, the woman and her colleague visited the Ashram, where they were greeted by 38-year-old Sakshi, who had been working as Narayan’s secretary for the last four years. Investigating Officer quoted the victim and said that “Before the woman could meet Narayan, his secretary drew her into hours-long conversations, leaving her physically and mentally drained.”

According to DCP Monika Bhardwaj, the woman wasn’t sure how to react to the offence until a week ago when she decided to write an email to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). The DCW officials helped the woman approach police following which a case of rape and criminal conspiracy was registered at Janakpuri police station on Friday.

The DCP said Hari Narayan was arrested from Haldwani in Uttarakhand and the two women involved were arrested also on Sunday from Delhi.