Pune Police Arrest Rishikesh Vaidya in Assault Case, Custody Till April 6

The Pune City Police apprehended Rishikesh Vaidya, a self-styled godman, in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region in connection with a sexual assault case. The arrest on Saturday follows ongoing investigations regarding a similar case involving Ashok Kharat, another self-styled godman based in Nashik, who is accused of exploiting women.

Police officials revealed that Vaidya allegedly began his contact with the victim through social media in October 2023. He is accused of luring the woman and subjecting her to sexual assault multiple times thereafter. The investigation indicates that after meeting the woman in Pune in 2023, Vaidya allegedly administered a narcotic substance and assaulted her. The assaults reportedly continued when he called her to Vasai.

In light of the ongoing Nashik case, the victim confided in her husband and subsequently filed a report with the police. Initially, a case was lodged at the Manikpur Police Station in Vasai, under the jurisdiction of the Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar Police Commissionerate. It was later transferred to the Manjari Police Station in Pune district for further investigation.

Upon the filing of the First Information Report (FIR), the accused went into hiding. However, based on a tip-off regarding his whereabouts in Pimpri, the Pune City Police managed to locate and apprehend him. Following his arrest, Vaidya was presented before a magistrate’s court in Pune, where the court issued a remand for police custody until April 6 to facilitate additional investigations.

In response to the charges, Vaidya’s defense lawyer has denied all allegations, asserting that the claims made by the victim are untrue. The lawyer expressed intentions to present pertinent evidence in court in the upcoming days.

Additionally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that the alleged rape investigation involving Ashok Kharat is under close scrutiny. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) along with the Nashik Police is overseeing the probe. Fadnavis has called for victims to come forward and has cautioned against the politicization of such cases. He emphasized that strict actions will be taken against the accused, asserting that no individual will be exempt from accountability.

Currently, Kharat is accused of having sexually assaulted a woman over several years under the pretense of spiritual guidance, and he is also in police custody as the investigation progresses.

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