Hindu priest arrested in Canada for sexually assaulting woman under guise of healing

A US-based Hindu priest has been arrested in Oshawa, Canada, for sexually assaulting a woman under the guise of a religious healing ceremony.Police said the victim and her family had hired the priest, identified as Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, 50, to travel from the US to perform a Hindu religious ceremony. Maraj is from Richmond Hill, New York.According to Durham Regional Police, Maraj told the woman that she was possessed by evil spirits and convinced her that she needed a specific ceremony to be healed. Police said he then exploited her trust in his religious role and brought her to a private location, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her while claiming to be carrying out the ceremony.Officers from the East Division responded to a sexual assault call on Tuesday, August 25, in the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East. Maraj was later taken into custody .He has been charged with one count of sexual assault and was held for a bail hearing.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.