Mumbai: Brothers use religious rite as ruse to rape two women

Subhash Chowdhary and Sanjay Chowdhary

A small-time film producer-cum-self-styled godman has been arrested for allegedly raping his receptionist under the pretext of conducting a ‘havan' (religious ceremony).

Brothers Subhash and Sanjay Chowdhary are both accused of rape in two separate cases. The latter is absconding

The accused had allegedly raped the victim, and maintained a physical relationship with her, by saying that her brother would die in an accident if she did not perform a ‘havan'.

The incident dates back to 2011 when the victim, a 22-year-old girl, was working as a receptionist in the office of Subhash Chowdhary.

The accused started threatening her by saying that her family would be harmed if she did not perform the religious ceremony.

The girl became ready to do anything, and accused Subhash began taking advantage of the victim. But when the receptionist realised that she was being taken for a ride, she quit her job in 2011, without filing an FIR or rape complaint against Subhash.

But, in 2014, the former receptionist met a 27-year-old model, who had been a visitor to Subhash Chowdhary's office, at a Borivli shopping mall. The model revealed that Subhash's brother Sanjay had also raped her under the pretext of ‘havan', and she had filed an FIR at Oshiwara police station. The model said that Subhash had introduced his younger brother Sanjay to her, saying that she would get a role in a movie. But Sanjay then allegedly raped her under the pretext of conducting a religious ceremony.

The model then took the victim to the Oshiwara police station in April this year, where an FIR against Subhash Chowdhary was filed. He was arrested last week, police said.

Sanjay is still absconding. Oshiwara police revealed that efforts are currently underway to nab the younger brother.