A tantrik was arrested on Saturday for allegedly exploiting women sexually on the pretext of exorcising them.
Raju Swamy, aged about 38, from Muddenahally in Periyapatna taluk, was arrested on Saturday evening when he came to pick up a homemaker on the pretext of suggesting remedies alleging that she was possessed by an evil spirit.
Following a complaint by the victim Razia (name changed) and her husband, Udayagiri police arrested Raju Swamy after he picked up the complainant in his car and was on the way to a resort.
According to the police, women from various parts of the state, especially Kodagu, Mysore, Chamarajanagar and Mangalore districts, who are suffering from ailments or have other problems visited the ashram of the accused in Muddenahally. He would note down their phone numbers and invite them to a resort where he molested them, police added.
In Razia’s case, the accused asked her to give him her photo to offer pooja saying that her soul was possessed. Later he tried to strike obscene conversation with her on the phone and invited her to a resort.