Vadodara College Student Files Rape Complaint Against Jain Monk

The girl was allegedly raped when she and her parents travelled to Surat on 1 October to seek the monk’s blessings.

Signatures on an anti-rape banner. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Reuters)

A Surat-based Jain monk allegedly raped a 19-year-old student of Vadodara college nearly two weeks ago, as per the rape survivor’s recent police complaint, reported The Indian Express. The complaint states that the girl was allegedly raped by the monk, a Digambar Jain temple acharya, when she and her parents travelled to Surat on 1 October to seek his blessings.

A case has been slapped against the accused under Section 376 (1) of the Indian Penal Code, reported The Indian Express.

The victim approached us on Friday, 13 October. Based on her statements, we registered a case against the accused. The girl was sent for medical examination where prima facie it seemed that she was raped. We will arrest the monk soon.

DCP Vidhi Chaudhary to <i>The Indian Express </i>

A group of Jains sought a free trial in the matter, and approached Surat Commissioner Satish Sharma regarding the same. According to the girl’s complaint, the monk took her to a private room near the temple and raped her.

Despite the girl allegedly sharing the experience with her mother right after the incident, the family was initially hesitant to take action against the acharya, out of fear. It is when their daughter’s mental state started deteriorating that the parents filed a complaint, said the report.

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