India, Aug. 11 -- Self-proclaimed godman and his friend allegedly raped a minor teen under the pretext of conducting exorcism rituals on July 30. The Virar police arrested them both on Saturday.

The victim, a 17-year-old, lives in Virar and is a student. She told the police that she met the godman, 22-year-old Prem Patil, many months ago in a temple, and he befriended her. He allegedly told her that he practises witchcraft and that she was possessed by an evil spirit. To expel the spirit, he told her she would have to have a physical relationship with him.

According to the police, on July 30, Prem and his friend Karan Patil took the victim to a lodge in the Rajodi beach area in Virar and raped her multiple times. After the girl left the...