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India.com
5 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Bengal Woman Accuses Padma Awardee Monk Kartik Maharaj Of Rape, Abortion
New Delhi: A shocking scandal has rocked West Bengal, with a woman accusing Padma Shri awardee monk Kartik Maharaj of raping her multiple times in 2013. Maharaj, a prominent figure in the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, allegedly promised the woman a teaching job at a school in Murshidabad, where he purportedly assaulted her repeatedly over six months. According to media reports, Maharaj allegedly lured the woman to his ashram in Murshidabad, West Bengal, and repeatedly assaulted her there, threatening to harm himself if she dared to report the incident. Citing the woman's complaint, the media reported, Maharaj offered her a job at Chanak Adivasi Abasik Balika Vidyalaya in Murshidabad, where she claimed he raped her multiple times between January and June 2013. The woman alleges that Maharaj threatened to harm himself if she reported the incident, forcing her to remain silent for over a decade. She also claims that Maharaj forced her to undergo an abortion at a private hospital in Berhampore after she became pregnant due to the repeated assaults. However, Maharaj, who was conferred the Padma Shri - the fourth-highest civilian award - this year, has denied any wrongdoing. He also said that there is a provision of accommodation at the said ashram mentioned by the woman. Maharaj has vehemently denied the allegations, stating that as a sanyasi, he faces such obstacles, and his legal team will respond to the matter in court. A case has been registered against Maharaj under relevant sections, and an investigation is currently underway. "I am a sanyasi. Such obstacles are not uncommon in the life of a monk," he said. The case has sparked controversy, given Maharaj's close ties with the BJP. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously accused him of supporting the saffron party in elections, prompting Maharaj to seek an unconditional apology from Banerjee. The incident comes amid protests against the Trinamool government over another alleged gang-rape incident involving a law student in Kolkata. Maharaj had sent a legal notice in 2024, seeking an unconditional apology from Banerjee for "tarnishing" the image of his ashram. The recent allegations against Padma Shri awardee monk Kartik Maharaj come amid a tumultuous time for the Trinamool government in West Bengal, which is facing widespread protests following a shocking gang-rape incident at Kolkata's South Calcutta Law College. A 24-year-old law student alleged that she was gang-raped by three individuals, including a former student linked to the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, and two current students, within the college premises on June 25. The accused have been arrested and taken into police custody. This incident has sparked outrage, drawing parallels to the RG Kar Medical College incident last year, and raising concerns about safety and law enforcement in the state.
India Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Woman accuses Padma Shri awardee of rape in Bengal, monk denies charge
A woman in West Bengal has accused Padma Shri awardee monk Kartik Maharaj of raping her in 2013 on the pretext of offering her a job at a school. Kartik Maharaj, who is known to be close to the BJP, has denied the woman alleged that Maharaj, a monk of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, took her to an ashram in Murshidabad, promising her a teaching job at a school situated in its premises. She was also given accommodation at the one night, the woman claimed that the monk entered her room and forced himself on her. She said that she remained silent on the incident all these years out of fear and helplessness. - Ends
NDTV
8 hours ago
- NDTV
Padma Awardee Monk Accused Of Rape, Abortion, Threats By Bengal Woman
Kolkata: A woman in West Bengal has accused Padma Shri awardee monk Swami Pradiptananda, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, of raping her on multiple occasions since 2013 on the pretext of offering her a job at a school. The monk, who is associated with Bharat Sevashram Sangha's Beldanga unit in the state's Murshidabad district, however, alleged a conspiracy to "malign his name and fame". Maharaj was among this year's recipients of the Padma Shri award - the fourth highest civilian award - that is given for distinguished service. The case against him comes against the backdrop of a political showdown in the state over another rape case involving a law student, by students and a staff member at her college in Kolkata. These incidents also follow last year's rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital that had triggered nationwide protests. In her complaint with Nabagram police earlier this week, the woman alleged Maharaj had promised her a job at Chanak Adivasi Abasik Balika Vidyalaya - one of the ashram's schools - when the duo met in December 2012. The survivor said she was also accommodated at the school hostel in January 2013, with an assurance that she would soon be hired. "However, he would almost everyday take me to a room on the fifth floor of the premises and rape me," she said in her complaint written in Bengali. "On one occasion, Maharaj summoned me and asked me to stay at his ashram for five days. He raped me here as well multiple times. He then asked me to return home and promised to send me money every month," she added. The survivor said that after she got pregnant in 2013, the accused, along with some school staff, took her to a private nursing facility in Berhampore for an abortion. "He threatened me when I opposed the idea. In the presence of two (school) staff members, he spoke to a doctor at the nursing home and forced me to undergo an abortion," she alleged. The complainant said she hoped and waited to get hired but continued to be sexually assaulted by the accused. "He raped me across several branches of the ashram in Murshidabad. He kept promising me a job and I kept waiting. Eventually, I broke down mentally," she said. The woman said she reached out to the monk on June 12. "I called him and he asked me to wait at a particular spot in Berhampore at 7pm on June 13. He said two people would come to pick me up. When the two men arrived and I boarded their vehicle, they threatened me and asked me not to contact Maharaj again. They also abused me and pushed me from the vehicle," she alleged. The woman sought stringent action against the accused. Maharaj dismissed the woman's allegations against him. "Time will reveal everything. This is a conspiracy against me to malign my name and fame. There are so many women employed in our ashram and many female disciples. Ask them. Everyone will say we respect women like our mothers," he was quoted as saying by The Times Of India. On Friday, the alleged rape of a student by two other students and the staff member of South Calcutta Law College inside the institute sparked a massive political row between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the assembly elections next year. Four people, including the college security guard, have been arrested so far. A photograph of the prime accused - Manojit Mishra, a practicing lawyer - with TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee gave the BJP fresh ammunition to target the ruling party. The TMC, though, denied having any connection with the accused now and sought "severe punishment" if he is found guilty. The incident at the law college brought back the horrific memories of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor inside RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in north Kolkata in August last year.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
Woman Accuses Padma Awardee Monk Kartik Maharaj Of Rape, Threats, And Abortion
Last Updated: A woman accused Swami Pradiptananda of Bharat Sevashram Sangha of raping her under the guise of offering a job for over a decade. An investigation is underway. A woman has accused Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of raping her under the guise of offering her a job. According to her complaint, the alleged abuse spanned over a decade, with ashram members involved and forcing her to undergo an abortion. This revelation comes a day after the woman's initial accusation. The woman in her complaint said that she met Kartik Maharaj in 2012 when he offered her a job at Chanak Adivasi Abasik Balika Vidyalaya, in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, where, she alleged, he raped her. According to the Hindustan Times, in her complaint, she further alleged that she received a call from Kartik Maharaj on June 12, and he asked her to meet him on June 13 near Berhampore Correctional Home. 'I talked to Kartik Maharaj over the phone on June 12. Two men from the ashram came to see me on June 13 and said they would take me to Beldanga. When I boarded their car, these men threatened me and asked me not to contact Kartik Maharaj ever again. Thereafter, they pushed me out of the vehicle and drove off," the three-page complaint written in Bengali said. Based on her complaint, an FIR was filed at the Lalbagh police station in Murshidabad district on Thursday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. ASP Raspreet Singh stated that an investigation is currently underway. However, as of the time of reporting, the Murshidabad police had not yet taken any action against the monk. While addressing a public event in Beldanga, Kartik Maharaj sought to defend himself. 'I can only say that monks are not allowed to spend nights at the women's hostel of the ashram," he said. Among the nine Padma Shri awardees from West Bengal this year, Kartik Maharaj was essentially an unknown figure until May 2024. This was when a controversy arose after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted a group of monks during her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. Defending the seer, BJP's Berhampore unit chief Malay Mahajan said, 'This is dirty politics by TMC, which wants to defame Kartik Maharaj. The Hindus will retaliate." TMC spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar said, 'No sin can be washed off or justified… Law should take its course without seeing his faith." First Published: June 28, 2025, 08:59 IST
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Woman lodges rape plaint against Kartik Maharaj
1 2 3 Behrampore: A woman filed a complaint at Nabagram police station on Thursday alleging repeated rape by Padma Shri recipient Swami Pradiptanandaji, also known as Kartik Maharaj, secretary of Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Murshidabad's Beldanga. Police have launched an investigation into the allegations. The complainant stated that she had sought a teaching position at Bharat Sevashram Sangha and was accommodated on Chanak Adivasi Balika Vidyapith hostel's fourth floor from Jan 2013, following assurance from Kartik Maharaj that she would be hired. She alleged that he raped her on the vacant floor, promising permanent employment. In June 2013, the woman said, she got pregnant and was forced to undergo an abortion at private facility in Behrampore. She claimed head teacher Subhadra Mondal and another colleague were in attendance. She was then asked to vacate the hostel, and was promised that she would get a salary at home. The payments ceased, though she continued visiting the ashram fortnightly until 2019. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The survivor's statement reads: "I telephoned the Maharaj on June 12 and he told me to wait near minority office the next evening. Two persons took me on a four wheeler promising that they will take me to Maharaj and but going some distance they pushed me from the SUV, and warned me not try to contact him anymore." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo "I want to unveil the real face of such a Maharaj so that he can't victimise any woman in future," she added. Responding to the allegations, Kartik Maharaj said: "Time will reveal everything. This is a conspiracy against me to malign my name and fame. There are so many women employed in our ashram and many female disciples. Ask them; everyone will say we respect women like our mothers. You can even contact the complainant's father or family members." BJP's South Murshidabad district president Malay Mahajan held a press conference supporting the senior monk. "It's a conspiracy against the respected Maharaj following the chief minister's complaint. Her counterparts manufactured this fabricated and false complaint as the Maharaj is good organiser and led a rally of monks against state govt's inability to save Hindus from torture. We condemn this and, if needed, we will start a movement if police harass him in the name of inquiry. " CM Mamata Banerjee had last year accused Kartik Maharaj of fanning communal tensions in Beldanga and intimidating voters at polling stations. Trinamool Congress, in a statement on X, said: "A close ally of @BJP4India, Kartik Maharaj recently awarded the Padma Shri on special recommendation of PM @narendramodi's Govt, stands accused of repeatedly raping a woman inside a school building in Murshidabad. In a country where saints and seers are revered, it is appalling that such individuals are defiling the very sanctity they claim to uphold. We demand a thorough, impartial investigation and the harshest punishment if found guilty. No political proximity should shield the accused. @NCWIndia must break its silence and take immediate cognizance."
