Astrologer held for raping household help in S.Delhi

A 43-year-old astrologer-cum-tantrik was arrested for allegedly raping his household help in south Delhi, police said on Saturday.

A 43-year-old astrologer-cum-tantrik was arrested for allegedly raping his household help in south Delhi, police said on Saturday.

HT Image

Identified as Siya Ram Dubey, a father of four who hails from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, the accused astrologer had forced himself on his household help on Thursday morning, said Chhaya Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (south).

"On the morning of September 20, the victim had reached Dubey's rented residence in Devli village as usual, and started cooking food in the kitchen. Soon, Dubey approached her from behind and then raped her," said DCP Sharma.

Even as Dubey fled, police said, the victim called her husband over the phone and reported the whole incident to him before the latter reached the spot and informed the local police.

Police said the victim was rushed to AIIMS where a medical examination confirmed that she had been raped.

Meanwhile, a case of rape was registered at Neb Sarai police station and several of Dubey's possible local hideouts were raided.

"During the course of investigation, Dubey's call detail records were also obtained and analysed. A criminal intelligence was developed, which revealed that he was somewhere in Sonepat," DCP Sharma said.

During interrogation, police said, Dubey disclosed that he had left Delhi to conduct a ‘bhoomi poojan’ at his client's house.

He said that he was planning to escape to an ashram in Ayodhya from where he had learned the tips of astrology long ago. He also confessed having committed the crime, police said.

“During his interrogation, Dubey said he had tried to persuade the victim to get closer to her by offering her money and other incentives. But the household help refused his advances. He got enraged when she didn’t respond to his advances and then raped her,” DCP Sharma added.