Astrologer held for molesting housewife

TNN | Feb 18, 2012, 03.53AM IST

(Link: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-18/kolkata/31074418_1_astrologer-complaint-lodge

Accessed on February 24, 2012)

KOLKATA: Police on Friday arrested an astrologer for allegedly molesting a 32-year-old housewife on February 7. The mother-in-law of the woman stopped her from lodging a complaint all this while to avoid public scrutiny. But a complaint was finally lodged with Parnashree police station on February 16 after the victim's brother convinced her to stand against the assault.

When the victim consulted the astrologer - identified as Anirban Nandy alias Anirban Shastri - for the recovery of her partially paralysed child, she was asked to visit his residence for a special process on February 7, an auspicious Maghi Purnima night. Accompanied by her ailing son and mother-in-law, she went to the astrologer's Parnashree home on the appointed date. They were promised a yagna for the recovery.

However, the victim was called into a room with the lure of a new amulet which could cure her child. When she went inside, the astrologer bolted the door from inside and tried to assault her.

Earlier, she used to go to visit his Dhakuria chamber when she was given an amulet which did not yield any result. So she was promised that the old amulet would be replaced with a new one. On February 4, she was contacted by the astrologer over phone and asked to come to his residence on February 7.

"After my sister entered the room, she was told that unless her unrequited passion is resolved, her problem will not be solved. Then he tried to molest her. But she managed to get out of the room. She informed her mother-in-law about the incident, but she advised her not to lodge a complaint to evade public humiliation," said Sourabh Basu Mullick, brother of the victim.

Depressed, the victim went to her parental home on February 13 and shared her ordeal with her family. "We told her that she must lodge a complaint. Why did she have to suppress this crime? She agreed to lodge a complaint with police," said Basu Mullick.