'Rapist' astrologer held in Tumkur

Victim to be shifted to Nimhans

Addressing reporters after visiting the girl at the district hospital, they said the Commission would rehabilitate the girl and try to bring her back to the mainstream. They added that the girl was mentally traumatised and was refusing to return to school.

“The astrologer, Siddesh, had convinced the girl’s father that they would find a treasure if they got the girl, whose birth star is Bharani, to perform a pooja,” the officials said and suspect that the crime was committed after taking the girl’s father into confidence.

The officials also pointed that there were many reasons for suspecting the father, including his hesitation to file a police complaint. “It has come to our notice that Siddesh had taken the girl to a village near Davangere on March 7. It is suspected that Siddesh had tried to rape the girl even then after getting  her to perform a pooja,” they said and added that the girl’s father had failed to file a complaint even then.

The officials are now trying to find out if any money was exchanged between the suspect and the girl’s father. The girl’s mother works in Mysore.

A person identified as Rudramuni is also alleged to be a accomplice to the crime. The police have filed cases under sections 376 and 366A against Siddesh.

Arrested

The self-styled astrologer Siddesh was arrested by the police on Wednesday. He was arrested at Kuppur village near Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur district.

The arrest was made following concrete information that Siddesh was at a relative’s place in Tumkur.

Police criticised

The handling of the case by the police has also come under criticism. District Child Welfare Committee president Nataraj pointed that as per the Juvenile Justice Act, the girl should have been questioned by women police and in a friendly environment. “However, the girl was questioned in the station like a criminal,” he alleged.

Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director Doreswamy was also present.