A self-proclaimed godman, who tried to rape a woman, landed in a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram with serious injuries after she bobbitised him.
However, Hari Swami (54) alias Gangananda Theerthapatha, a resident of an ashram in Kollam, told the police that he did it on his own as a penance.
Police suspect that he is owning up the crime to evade law, but the 22-year-old woman insisted that she did it as a last resort to check his advances as he had been sexually exploiting her for five years on the pretext of pooja (rituals).
According to police, Hari tried to rape the woman at her house in Thiruvanathapuram Pettah on Friday night. The woman had hidden a knife under her pillow and attacked him when he advanced.
Later, the woman’s family rushed Hari to Thiruvananthapuram medical college and hospital early on Saturday, following which the woman approached the police and narrated the whole incident.
Since the woman said she was assaulted for the last five years, the police booked Hari under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) sections also.
Police said the woman will also be charged under relevant sections of self-defence.
The woman’s mother, who was close to the godman, knew about his sexual advances to her daughter, and police said they would charge her also.
Hari is out of danger after doctors conducted two surgeries on him. They are still trying to stitch back his severed penis, hospital authorities said.
Panmana ashram in Kollam, where Hari used to reside, has disowned him.
