New Delhi: The police in Canada have arrested a Hindu priest for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman on the pretext of performing a religious ritual. According to a spokesperson for the Durham Regional Police, the priest, identified as Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, was taken into custody Tuesday on the complaint of a family based in Oshawa, Ontario.
The police spokesperson said that New York-based Doodnauth was approached by the victim’s family for performing a religious ceremony. However, he convinced the victim she was possessed by evil spirits and needed a specific ceremony. After that, Doodnauth took her to a private location and assaulted her.
“On Tuesday, 25 August 2026, members of East Division responded to a sexual assault call in the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East. The victim and her family employed a Hindu pandit (priest) from the United States of America to visit them and perform a religious ceremony,” the Durham Regional Police spokesperson said in a statement.
“The pandit deceived the victim into believing she was possessed by evil spirits and needed a specific ritual to heal herself. The suspect exploited the victim into attending a private location where the suspect sexually assaulted the victim under the guise of performing a religious ceremony,” the spokesperson further said.
After the police were alerted by the victim’s family, the police dispatched a local team and took the priest into custody. The police suspect there could be more victims of the New York priest and have urged them to come forward.
The police reiterated that details given in the statement were based on facts and circumstances pieced together during the course of the probe and it is subject to a trial.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)