The Kerala godman, who was castrated by a 23-year-old law student for allegedly raping her for several years, has claimed he mutilated himself as the sexual organ was of no use to him.
According to India Today, 54-year-old Hari Swami gave this statement to the police after he was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act for repeatedly raping the woman since she was a teenager.
The swami, who began his career as a tea-stall owner, joined the Padmana Chattambi Swami Ashram 15 years ago after deciding to become a spiritual guru.
Now close to Hindu Aikyavedi, which promotes Hinduism in Kerala, he was earlier a close associate of BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan and other office bearers of the Kerala unit of the party.
The swami became close to the girl's family when her mother invited him to conduct pujas, hoping these would cure her paralysed husband. It was on this excuse he started frequenting their home and allegedly raping her since she was a teenager.
After the woman attacked the swami, he was brought to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital around 12.40 a.m. on Friday night, with his genitals severed almost 90%. A team of medical professionals conducted a plastic surgery on the Swami and he is now out of danger.
NDTV reported that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised the woman's courage for taking such a step.
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