Shiv Sena leader demands CID probe, writes to home minister

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe yesterday demanded a CID probe in the case, wherein a 29-year-old married woman alleged sexual harassment at the hands of astrologer Malan Govar Ramamurti alias Kuppu Swami.u00a0

Demanding justice: The victim and Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe during a press conference in the city yesterday. The victim had approached Kuppu Swami in March 2011, seeking astrological help so she could find a job to help her repay the loan she had taken for her treatment. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

Ramamurti, who hails from Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu, operates an astrology centre in Kothrud. u00a0Gorhe claimed the Kothrud police had failed to arrest the culprit despite the victim registering a complaint against Ramamurti fifteen days ago.

She said this was the primary reason why she wrote to Home Minister R R Patil, seeking his intervention in the matter. Gorhe demanded immediate arrest of the accused and that he should be tried in a fast track court.

The victim, a resident of Kothrud, was suffering from cancer and had approached Ramamurti in March 2011, seeking astrological help to find her a job to help her repay the loan she had taken for her treatment.

Evil intentions
"I had approached Kuppu Swami, who runs the Shri Agast Naadi Shiv Jyotish Nilayam astrology centre in March 2011, to seek astrological advice. I was a cancer patient and had taken a loan of Rs 2.5 lakh for the treatment.

He took advantage of my unemployment and offered me a job at his residence," the victim said. "In July 2011, Kuppu Swami served me a coffee laced with sedatives following which he sexually exploited me."

The victim claimed Ramamurti filmed his act and threatened her of uploading it on a porn site if she refused to give in to his demands in the future.

She finally approached the Kothrud police station officials and registered a complaint against Ramamurti and his brother, who was allegedly helping him, on October 26 this year.

"It has been more than 15 days since I registered the complaint, but the police haven't initiated any action against him, thus providing him with an opportunity to flee the city," the victim said.

She even accused police officials of pressurising her not to register the FIR, saying that it would tarnish her image.

Rubbishing charges
Refuting the allegations levelled by the victim, Inspector K D Vidhate of the Kothrud police station said, "Our team reached Ramamurti's hometown in Tamil Nadu on Monday itself, and I'm confident that he'll be arrested soon. Once in custody, he will be interrogate for his involvement in similar cases." u00a0