According to the police, the survivor had been living with her mother in Kalyan town, following the deaths of her father and grandmother a few months ago, and Shaikh, who was acquainted with the mother, allegedly convinced them that an evil spirit was haunting their house.
Officials stated that on May 2 and May 6, taking advantage of the mother's absence, the accused allegedly molested and raped the teen.
The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, official said.
Shaikh was apprehended and produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody till May 13, he said, adding that further probe is underway.
In a separate incident, a self-proclaimed godman was arrested in Maharashtra’s Nashik district for allegedly sexually exploiting a 28-year-old woman under the guise of performing spiritual rituals. The accused, as per a PTI report, identified as Maheshgiri alias Mahesh Kakde (31), was taken into custody on the night of April 23 and has been remanded in police custody till April 29 by a local court.
According to reports, Maheshgiri convinced the woman that she was under the influence of evil forces and persuaded her to perform rituals. Gradually, he began sending obscene messages and escalating the abuse.