Oshawa (Ontario): A 50-year-old Hindu priest from New York has been arrested and charged after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman during a religious healing ritual in Oshawa, Ontario.
Officers from the Durham Regional Police Service’s East Division launched an investigation on August 25 after receiving a sexual assault report from the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East. According to investigators, the victim’s family had hired a travelling Hindu pandit from the United States to perform religious ceremonies at their residence. During his visit, the suspect allegedly convinced the woman that she was possessed by evil spirits and insisted that a specialised healing ritual was required to cure her.
Police alleged that the suspect then exploited the situation by taking the woman to a private location, where he sexually assaulted her under the pretext of conducting the spiritual rite. Authorities were contacted shortly after the incident, and officers located and arrested the suspect without incident.
The accused has been identified as Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj of Richmond Hill, New York. He has been charged with one count of sexual assault and was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Investigators are concerned that there may be additional victims due to the suspect’s international travel for spiritual work. Durham police have released a photograph of the accused and are urging anyone with information or who may have had similar interactions with the suspect to contact Detective Constable Cronin of the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520, extension 1605. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
