Overview

• Bellandur police arrested 40-year-old assistant priest Arun T. A. on June 16 after the victim filed a complaint on June 13.
• The 38-year-old widow from Bengaluru was drawn to the Peringottukara Temple’s online presence by promises of rituals to remove a supposed curse on her family.
• Arun allegedly coerced the woman through WhatsApp video calls and threats of black magic against her children before recording the abuse for blackmail.
• The victim traveled to Kerala for the ritual, where she says Arun and main priest Unni Damodaran attempted to sexually assault her prior to her escape.
• Police are examining evidence including screenshots, call logs and audio recordings as they continue to search for the absconding main priest.