Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Rupesh Samant
Updated
Panaji, Oct 8: The Kundapur-based Godman who is wanted in connection with a rape on 19-year-old woman has gone missing, with the Goa police team returning empty-handed.
The woman originally from Achra in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, currently living in Goa, had complained that the Godman had raped her in a house near Mapusa town of the State. She had also named two other accused, one of whom who had taken her there.
"The police team which visited Kundapur in Karnataka could not find the Godman at his Ashram. The searches were also conducted at various other spots where he might probably be found. But he is missing," a senior police officer from Vasco Police Station said today.
Police have arrested two other accused Santosh Kumbhar and Nikhil Chavan, who are currently being questioned. "We have got certain information which can lead us to the Godman," he said.
As per the complaint filed with Vasco police yesterday, the girl has said that Santosh Kumbhar, who hails from Nipani in Karnataka and who is known to her, gave her lift promising to drop her to Achra.
"She stated that Kumbhar offered her a soft drink on the way which she suspect was laced with some drugs and took her to an unknown house close to Mapusa.
"The woman claimed that the godman, who hails from Kundapur town in the neighbouring state, was present in the house along with another person who she identified as Nikhil Chavan," he said.?According to the woman, Kumbhar and Chavan left the house after which the godman raped her. She said he threatened her with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone.?The Vasco Police have booked the godman on the charges of rape, unnatural offences, causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence, and criminal intimidation.
Earlier Report
Kundapur: Goa police visit Gavali in search of alleged godman-turned rapist
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Oct 8: Personnel of Goa police visited Gavali village in the taluk, which is located within the limits of Kota police station, on Saturday October 7, in search of Yoga guru-cum-self styled astrologer who is facing the charge of raping a lady in Goa and then going underground. The police visited Gavali, native place of Ravishankar, who had since some years projected himself as an astrologer, Yoga teacher, and Vaastu specialist.
Ravishankar, who is from Gavali near Bidkalkatte in the taluk, had moved to Bengaluru after initially taking part in minor priestly duties in religious functions. Once there, he had succeeded in creating an image of himself as a person with in-depth knowledge of astrology, Yoga, and Vaastu, it is learnt. Many believed him to be a godman. Ravishankar had shifted to Vasco city in Goa where too his business had flourished with the help of some of his followers who had faith in him.
A lady aged 19, who happens to be a native of a village in Sindhudurg district of Maharasthra, and currently living in Vasco, had come in contact with Santosh Kumbhar from Nippani, Karnataka. After promising to drop the lady at her native place in Maharasthra and accompanying her in a hired car on Friday, Kumbhar allegedly offered her cold rink laced with intoxicants before leading her to a house near Mapusa, Goa. The lady has complained that Ravishankar raped her there and threatened her with murder if she revealed the incident to anyone.
The lady said that a person named Nikhil Chavan, an ardent follower of Ravishankar, was with Ravishankar when she reached the house at Mapusa. She claimed that after she was dropped there, both Nikhil and Santhosh went away, following which Ravishankar raped her.
The Goa police did not get any information about Ravishankar's whereabouts at Gavali as the people there do not know much about his current location and dealings. The police therefore, had to return to Goa empty-handed. While the self-claimed godman faces case of rape and feeding drugs to the lady, Nikhil and Kumbhar face the charge of abetting the rape. Vasco police, who are trying to extract exact details of Ravishankar's present whereabouts from the arrested duo, have claimed that they have collected some clues about him and expressed the confidence of arresting him soon.
Udupi district police however said that they had no knowledge about the visit of Goa police team to the district in search of the above accused. District superintendent of police, Dr Sanjeev M Patil, said that if the Goa police seek help from the police here, they will extend full cooperation.