Kolkata, May 7 (). Jagadartih Das, a monk and chief coordinator of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Mayapur in West Bengal’s Nadia district, has gone missing. A security guard of the temple had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against the sadhu at a local police station.
According to the FIR lodged at Nabadwip police station, the security guard was allegedly called by the accused sadhu to his room and then sexually assaulted her. Local police sources said that though complaints of sexual abuse had been received against the monk in the past as well, this is the first time a formal police complaint has been lodged.
Nadia District Superintendent of Police Ishani Paul has confirmed to media persons that a complaint has been registered against the sadhu and he is absconding. He also confirmed that the police have started investigating the matter and efforts are on to trace the accused Sadhu.
The accused Sadhu has been charged under Section 377 (unnatural offences), Section 342 (wrongful confinement) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, the temple authorities have taken serious note of the matter and expelled Das from the Sangha. He was earlier known as Jayant Kumar Saha.
In his complaint, the victim security guard also alleged that the accused sadhu threatened him that he would be terminated if he disclosed the incident of sexual harassment. The victim also told the police that other temple employees had been sexually assaulted in the past as well, though they remained silent in the face of threats.
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