THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The woman, who allegedly chopped off the genitals of Swami Gangeshananda Theerthapada, has again changed her statement saying she attacked Swami after she was forced to do so by Ayyappadas, who claimed to be her boyfriend and the Swami’s disciple.
She again changed her stance on Friday while giving statements to the Crime Branch officers who are investigating the case. The Crime Branch recorded the statements of the woman and her brother at their residence at Pettah. Her brother reportedly said he was unaware of the incident. Earlier, the woman had turned hostile and defended Swami in a letter, purportedly written by her. The letter was submitted to the court by Swami’s lawyer Sasthamangalam Ajith.
She had told the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Court she did not trust the investigation as the police tried to compel her to provide statements against Swami. Initially, she told police she had cut off the godman’s genitals when he made sexual advances at her. She had alleged the Swami had been misbehaving with her ever since she was a minor, following which the trial was handed over to the POCSO Court.