Kerala priest arrested in blackmail, attempted rape case by K'taka police

Bengaluru: Karnataka Police have arrested a priest from Kerala on charges of blackmail and attempted rape, while the main accused, also a priest, remains on the run.

Officials identified the arrested individual as Arun, affiliated with the Peringottukara temple in Kerala. A search is underway for the temple’s chief priest, Unni Damodaran, in connection with the case.

According to police, the victim—a Bengaluru resident facing financial distress—was referred to the temple by friends who claimed a special ritual there could resolve her problems. After viewing a video about the temple, she visited it to perform the worship.

The accused priests allegedly gained her trust during the visit and subsequently began contacting her via WhatsApp, displaying inappropriate behaviour. Police said they exploited her vulnerable state, threatening her under the guise of black magic and coercing her into compliance.

Later, they called her to the temple and this time demanded her cooperation. The victim stated in her complaint that the accused forced her to have unnatural sex.

Police stated that the arrested accused, Arun, served as a translator between the victim—fluent in Tamil and Kannada—and the main accused, Unni Damodaran, the chief priest at Peringottukara temple in Kerala. Arun allegedly convinced the woman to pay ₹24,000 for a special ritual, promising it would end the misfortunes plaguing her family. He also obtained her contact details during the interaction.

The victim reported that Arun told her black magic had been performed on her family and that a counter-ritual was necessary. He allegedly instructed her to follow specific directions, including during a video call in which he appeared nude and asked her to do the same. When she refused, he threatened to use black magic against her children, ultimately coercing her into compliance.

Frightened by the threats, the woman travelled to Kerala for the second ritual. Following the ceremony, the two accused reportedly took her to a secluded forest area, where they attempted to sexually assault her, claiming it was required to “complete the ritual”.

The woman managed to escape and returned to Bengaluru, where she filed a complaint at the Bellandur police station. Police said she is shocked by the incident, and further investigation into the case is on.

(inputs from IANS)