‘I am Shankar and…’ After Ashok Kharat, second fake god arrested, raped and blackmailed a woman by pretending to be Mahadev

Maharashtra: A 40-year-old man named Hrishikesh Vaidya, resident of Palghar district of Maharashtra, has been caught by the police. He is facing a serious allegation of rape and sexual exploitation of a woman. This person used to trap women by calling himself the incarnation of Lord Shiva or Mahadev.

Friendship started from social media

The event started on Facebook in 2023. The victim (34 years old, resident of Pune) befriended the accused. Later in December 2023, Rishikesh reached Pune and cheated the woman by pretending to be Mahadev. He would repeatedly say “I am Shankar and you are my Parvati”. He won the woman’s trust by taking advantage of religious sentiments.

Rape and blackmail happened in the lodge

According to the police, the accused exploited the woman by giving her an anesthetic in a lodge in Manjri area of ​​Pune. Besides, he also started blackmailing by taking confidential photographs. In May 2024, an attempt at sexual assault was made again in a hotel in Vasai. The woman remained silent for a long time due to fear and blackmail.

Made many women victims?

Police officers say that this method of Rishikesh Vaidya was not new. He used to trap many other women in the same way through social media and his social organization. He used to exploit them by claiming himself to be a guru with divine powers.

Got courage from Ashok Kharat case

The victim got the courage to lodge a complaint from the case of Nashik’s self-styled godman Ashok Kharat. After several allegations of rape and exploitation came to light against Kharat, this woman also expressed her pain. On Wednesday, zero FIR was registered at Manikpur police station in Vasai, which was later handed over to Hadapsar police station in Pune for investigation.

Senior Inspector Hiralal Jadhav said that the accused Hrishikesh Vaidya has been arrested. The police are now investigating the exploitation of other women as well.

abuse of religious sentiments

This incident again highlights the problem of exploitation of women by fake babas and self-styled godmen in Maharashtra. Such people target innocent women in the name of God and then blackmail them and force them to remain silent. Such cases are being exposed due to the activeness of the police and the courage of the victims.