"Stigma To Civilized Society, Robbed Innocent Girl's Respect": MP High Court Denies Bail To 'Exorcist' Accused Of Raping Woman

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday denied bail to an 'exorcist' held on charges of committing rape upon a woman who had come to him for the purpose of exorcism. Noting that the applicant/rape accused had committed misdeeds by violating respect of a married lady by utilizing his position of respect of being exorcist of evil soul, the Bench of Justice Anil Verma rejected his bail application. "…such a hypocrite exorcist is a stigma to any civilized society, who robs the respect of innocent girl on the pretext of exorcism, in my considered opinion applicant does not deserve for bail," added the Court. Facts in brief The Court was hearing the bail plea of an 'exorcist' who has been held for the commission of offence punishable u/S 376, 506 of IPC. As per the prosecution's story, a young married lady of 20 years was feeling unwell before the date of the incident and therefore, her maternal-uncle-in-law took her to the applicant Mangilal, an exorcist (Jhaad Foonk karnevala ojha) for the purpose of exorcism. At the midnight, the applicant/accused took them at cremation ground (place of burial) and stopped her husband and maternal-uncle-in-law near the drain (that place was far from the place of incident). Then the applicant took off the clothes of the prosecutrix and committed rape upon her and threatened the victim that if she will disclose the incident to anyone, he will kill her along with her family members. After 9 months, she narrated the incident to her mother Kalibai and cousin Kanha and on May 20, 2021 the prosecutrix approached the police and launched an FIR against the applicant, on the basis of which, a crime under Section 376 and 506 of IPC had been registered against the applicant. Court's order Perusing the case diary, the Court noted that the victim was brought before the exorcist by her husband and other relatives for the purpose of treatment of her illness and a man (present applicant) who was in business of cheating to the victims of misfortune and exploiting women under the pretext of carrying out rituals of exorcism, committed rape upon the prosecutrix on the pretext of performing rituals. Further, the Court said that her 164 CrPC had been recorded in which she stated that often she felt unwell then her husband and maternal uncle-in-law took her before the applicant, who committed rape with her in absence of her husband and other relatives. "By way of such statement prosecutrix supported the prosecution case and it reveals that sufficient prima facie evidence is available on record against the applicant," the Court noted denying bail to the applicant/accused. Case title - Mangilal Vs. State of MP Click Here To Download OrderRead Order

"Stigma To Civilized Society, Robbed Innocent Girl's Respect": MP High Court Denies Bail To 'Exorcist' Accused Of Raping Woman

Sparsh Upadhyay

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