Priest arrested for molesting woman

A-77-year old priest was arrested by police for allegedly molesting a 27-year-old devotee on temple premises in Kalyan, on Friday afternoon.

The woman, a regular visitor to the Ganesh Dutt temple in Suchaknaka, Kalyan, was accompanied by her husband, but this fact did not seem to deter the priest from pursuing his unholy intentions.

Police said the priest sent out the woman’s husband to bring a basket of fruit as an offering to Ganesha. When the man returned, he noticed his wife looking harried and she told him of her alleged molestation by the priest. The man was livid and with the help of a passerby, he beat up the priest and handed him over to Kolsewadi Police, where an offence has been booked against the priest, identified as Gopal Laxman Tambe, 77, a resident of Pisvali village in Dombivli. He has officiated as priest at the Ganesh temple for many years.

According to Assistant Police Inspector Sunita Rajput, “The complaint was filed by the victim immediately after the incident. She stated she had a headache and thought of visiting the temple. One of the neighbours suggested she visit Gopal Laxman Tambe, the priest who could relieve her of the lingering headache. She was told it would recede with temple prasad. But the priest allegedly touched her body inappropriately after he dispatched her husband to the market”.

Tambe was produced in court and has been sent to Magistrate custody.