Kerala: Rape accused swami's defence: chopped off my organ as it was useless

A 54-year-old self-styled godman from Kerala, whose genitalia was chopped off by a 23-year-old law student after she accused him of raping her for several years, has denied her role and claimed that he bobbitised himself as his organ was ‘no longer useful’ to him.

As per reports in India Today, the sanyasi's comments are from the statement he gave Kerala Police after being charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act for repeatedly raping the now 22-year-old woman over a period of seven years.

Earlier, the woman, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram, claimed she chopped off Hari alias Ganeshananda Theerthapada Swami​’s genitals. According to a report on The News Minute, police say the woman gave a statement alleging that the Swami had been abusing her for several years, since she was in her high school.

"She knew that no one would believe her if she said she had been sexually assaulted by a man of god. So, this was perhaps the only thing she could think of," the Circle inspector of Pettai station told TNM.

The woman has been taken to a women’s shelter run by the government.

Theerthapada , who ​belongs to the Panmana Ashram in Kollam, is now out of danger after surgery.

Meanwhile, the Panmana Ashram, which was founded by social reformer Chattambi Swamikal, said in a statement, “The Swamy had left the ashram 15 years ago after completing his studies.”

Earlier, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan praised the girl, saying it was a courageous step.