Astrologer held for molesting woman in Pune

PUNE: (Jul 20) An astrologer has been arrested for allegedly molesting a 25-year-old woman in Pune, police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred in the office of the accused, Akhilesh Laxman Rajguru (45), in the Dhankawadi area a few days ago, an official said. He said the woman, a college student, had visited Rajguru’s office with her brother’s astrological chart, when he said he had to give her an object, and called her again the next day.

The alleged molestation occurred on July 19 and a complaint was filed on the same day at the Sahakarnagar Police Station. Police promptly arrested the accused.

Police said that the woman had first visited Rajguru on July 12 along with her brother, after a friend recommended him. Rajguru told her that he needed a special herb for a ritual for her brother. On July 18, he messaged her that he had procured the herb and asked her to come alone the next day.

On July 19, when the woman went to his office, he told her to place an object on her head while he chanted some ‘mantras’. The woman felt something was wrong and tried to leave. At that moment, Rajguru hugged her and tried to molest her further.

She managed to free herself from his clutches, called her brother, and rushed to Sahakarnagar Police Station to file a complaint.

After receiving the complaint, police raided Rajguru’s office and arrested him. Senior inspector Rahul Gaud of Sahakarnagar PS said that in the initial investigation, it appears he may have behaved the same way with other women too, but those women might be afraid to come forward for fear of negative publicity.