Woman lodges rape plaint against Kartik Maharaj
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Behrampore: A woman filed a complaint at Nabagram police station on Thursday alleging repeated rape by
Padma Shri
recipient Swami Pradiptanandaji, also known as Kartik Maharaj, secretary of Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Murshidabad's Beldanga.
Police have launched an investigation into the allegations.
The complainant stated that she had sought a teaching position at Bharat Sevashram Sangha and was accommodated on Chanak Adivasi Balika Vidyapith hostel's fourth floor from Jan 2013, following assurance from Kartik Maharaj that she would be hired. She alleged that he raped her on the vacant floor, promising permanent employment.
In June 2013, the woman said, she got pregnant and was forced to undergo an abortion at private facility in Behrampore.
She claimed head teacher Subhadra Mondal and another colleague were in attendance. She was then asked to vacate the hostel, and was promised that she would get a salary at home. The payments ceased, though she continued visiting the ashram fortnightly until 2019.
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The survivor's statement reads: "I telephoned the Maharaj on June 12 and he told me to wait near minority office the next evening. Two persons took me on a four wheeler promising that they will take me to Maharaj and but going some distance they pushed me from the SUV, and warned me not try to contact him anymore."
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"I want to unveil the real face of such a Maharaj so that he can't victimise any woman in future," she added.
Responding to the allegations, Kartik Maharaj said: "Time will reveal everything. This is a conspiracy against me to malign my name and fame. There are so many women employed in our ashram and many female disciples. Ask them; everyone will say we respect women like our mothers. You can even contact the complainant's father or family members."
BJP's South Murshidabad district president Malay Mahajan held a press conference supporting the senior monk. "It's a conspiracy against the respected Maharaj following the chief minister's complaint. Her counterparts manufactured this fabricated and false complaint as the Maharaj is good organiser and led a rally of monks against state govt's inability to save Hindus from torture. We condemn this and, if needed, we will start a movement if police harass him in the name of inquiry.
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CM Mamata Banerjee had last year accused Kartik Maharaj of fanning communal tensions in Beldanga and intimidating voters at polling stations.
Trinamool Congress, in a statement on X, said: "A close ally of @BJP4India, Kartik Maharaj recently awarded the Padma Shri on special recommendation of PM @narendramodi's Govt, stands accused of repeatedly raping a woman inside a school building in Murshidabad. In a country where saints and seers are revered, it is appalling that such individuals are defiling the very sanctity they claim to uphold. We demand a thorough, impartial investigation and the harshest punishment if found guilty.
No political proximity should shield the accused. @NCWIndia must break its silence and take immediate cognizance."
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