What began as a spiritual journey ended in repeated trauma for a 38-year-old Bengaluru woman, who was allegedly raped multiple times by a Kerala temple administrator under the false promise of removing a curse. The accused, 40-year-old Arun T.A., affiliated with the Peringottukara temple in Kizhakkummuri, was arrested last week, while his accomplice, priest Unni Damodaran, remains absconding.
In March, the woman, a widowed mother of two, visited the temple with friends after discovering it online. Battling financial and personal hardships since her husband’s death in 2016, she was vulnerable and seeking peace. In her complaint to Bellandur police, she recounted how Arun and the priest manipulated her into believing she was under a spell and needed special rituals to reverse it.
She paid ₹24,000 for the rituals but when she couldn’t pay more, Arun offered to “help,” which soon led to coercion. He allegedly began calling frequently, sending inappropriate messages, and issuing disturbing instructions via video calls. He professed love, commented on her looks, and insisted she follow his every word.
Matters escalated when he allegedly blackmailed her with threats of possessing intimate footage and claimed he could harm her children through black magic. On May 10, he reportedly raped her at the temple, with Damodaran keeping watch. A second assault took place on May 21, in a secluded forest area.
Traumatized, the woman confided in her family, who encouraged her to go to the police. Arun was arrested, and authorities are actively pursuing Damodaran.
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