Pastor Arrested on Rape Charges

(Representational Image)

A pastor in Patna has been arrested on Oct. 22 for allegedly raping a woman churchgoer at his residence under the pretense of holding special prayers to heal her of mental sickness.

According to the police, complaint was lodged on Sept. 23, but First Information Record (FIR) wasn't filed. Later, another woman filed similar allegations against the pastor. With the help from an NGO, FIR was filed at Mahila Police Station on Oct. 10. Police arrested Chandrama Raj, the pastor of Indian Mission Church at Alamganj from Gurhatta.

"Statements of both women were recorded in the presence of a judicial magistrate. But the FIR was lodged by one of them. We have conducted a preliminary inquiry and arrested the priest Chandrama Raj. He has been sent to judicial custody," said Patna SSP Manu Maharaj.

According to the FIR, Raj was involved in exorcising ghosts and evil spirits. He performed special prayers at his residence where he allegedly raped the petitioner who suffers from some mental disease.

Following the arrest, about eight church members visited the woman police station and protested demanding release of the pastor.

"We followed the due process before the arrest. We also interrogated the pastor at the police station before he was sent to judicial custody," said Vibha Kumari, in-charge of woman police station.

"We will question several people as well," Kumari added, according to Indian Express.