Andhra seer arrested for sexually assaulting minor girl in his ashram

The minor girl had been living at the ashram run by the accused in Visakhapatnam since 2016, when her grandmother left her there after the death of her parents.

Swami Poorananda, sexual assault, indian express

Swami Poorananda was already accused of raping another minor and he was named in several cases of land-grabbing and encroachment in Visakhapatnam, said the police. (Representational Photo)

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The Andhra Pradesh Police Monday arrested a seer for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl multiple times over several months.

The minor girl had been living at the ashram run by the accused, identified as Swami Poornanda, in Visakhapatnam since 2016, when her grandmother left her there after the death of her parents. She recently ran away from the ashram and its officials lodged a missing complaint.

Checking CCTV visuals, the police found the girl in Vijayawada. She told the police about the repeated sexual assault by the accused. Officials of a Disha police station, which deals with cases of sexual assault against women, arrested the accused.

Poorananda was already accused of raping another minor and he was named in several cases of land-grabbing and encroachment in Visakhapatnam, said the police.