A shocking incident unfolded in Visakhapatnam as authorities apprehended a 64-year-old seer accused of sexually abusing and repeatedly raping a 15-year-old girl. The arrest was made by the Visakhapatnam police on Monday, June 19.

The victim, an orphan, managed to escape from the Ramananda Gnanananda Ashram located in Venkoji Nagar, MVP Colony area of the city on June 13. The accused, identified as Swami Poornananda, is currently facing trial in a 2012 rape case, which involved another minor girl.

Vizag Seer Faces Rape Charges The police have disclosed that 12 children, consisting of four girls and eight boys, reside in the ashram situated in vizag, along with six staff members. While the victim hails from the Gandepalli area in Rajahmundry, the other children come from the Araku tribal region.

In 2016, following the loss of her parents, the victim initially resided at the Gandepalli Sadhu Matham in Rajahmundry. Subsequently, she was transferred to Poornananda's ashram.

"The victim is older than the other girls. She informed to police that he used to summon her and the other girls to his room after 9-10 pm. Under the pretense of asking them to massage his legs, he would subject them to sexual abuse," revealed ACP Ch Vivekananda of the Disha Police. 

After managing to escape, the girl lodged a complaint, stating that she had been confined with a chain and endured days without food. Initially, she filed a zero FIR in Vijayawada, which was subsequently re-registered by the Visakhapatnam police.

"Upon leaving, she boarded the Tirumala Express, where she encountered a woman from the Rajahmundry district and shared her harrowing experience. With the assistance of the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), the woman presented the girl before the Child Welfare Committee," added ACP Vivekananda.

Interestingly, Poornananda himself filed a missing-person report on June 15 at the MVP Colony Police Station in an attempt to avoid suspicion. The Disha Police in Visakhapatnam registered a case against the seer under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Sections 505 and 506 of the POCSO Act.

The victim is currently undergoing a medical examination in Vijayawada.

Seer's History of Crime Swami Poornananda, despite his extensive education, boasting two master's degrees, a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, and a law degree, allegedly has a criminal history that extends beyond abuse.

"Numerous cases have been registered against him, including land disputes. Around 9.5 acres of the ashram's land is also entangled in legal issues," stated the police. Maintaining his innocence, Poornananda purportedly informed the police that the cases against him were motivated by individuals seeking to seize the ashram's land.

"We are investigating the abuse case from various angles to establish the facts. We are speaking with the other children in the ashram to determine whether similar incidents have occurred in the past," commented ACP Vivekananda.

Visakhapatnam Commissioner Trivikram Varma reportedly asserted that all the cases would be consolidated into a single case for further action.