Allahabad HC Refuses Bail To 'Ojha' Accused Of Rape: Details Here

Allahabad High Court refused to grant bail to an 'Ojha' who was accused of raping a 15-year-old girl under the pretext of performing religious customs. The court rightly said, "Considering the fact that the applicant is 'Ojha' and he under the pretext to provide treatment by religious way committed rape with the victim, who was aged about 15 years when she was alone with him in the room, in my view, applicant is not entitled to be released on bail."

The case in question reminds me of many cases in which religious gurus were charged with heinous crimes that they were committing under the pretext of performing religious ceremonies. On the top of my mind, I have Asaram Bapu, Gurmeet Ram Raheem and more. It took years for people to believe that these gurus were indulging in crimes like rape because of the blindfold that they are godmen who cannot do anything wrong. But guess what? Time is changing. The tolerance level against these deceitful gurus has decreased and people are now openly calling them out.  

The major reason why these gurus used to get away easily is the blind faith bestowed on them by their followers. It was as if their tactics were to first gain faith and popularity and then use them negatively to harass women. I have never really believed in godmen but each time my heart breaks when such cases of crime and deceit surface. They not only misuse their power but also destroy the value and meaning of faith.

It is indeed heartbreaking to know how these gurus deceive and misuse the faith of women and assault them for years. Such women are not able to speak up too firstly because they refuse to believe that they are being wronged in the first place and secondly, because no one would really believe them if they went against a popular religious face.

How blind faith can lead to wrongdoing 

Religion in our country has become a blind faith. Under the garb of religion, society commits many follies that it is unaware of. And believing in such deceitful men tops the list. Society believes in pandits, maulvis and ojhas so blindly that it is not ready to tolerate any accusations against them. The faith is so blind that opposing consensual PDA in religious places has become more important than opposing rape on the same holy grounds. Yes. I am talking about the couple who was assaulted in Uttar Pradesh for PDA in a religious place. But in the same state when a Muslim girl was gang raped by religious men under a holy roof, it took days for people to believe and accuse the perpetrators. 

Manoj Bajpayee's film Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai rightly portrays how difficult it is for a woman to gain justice in a case where she has been assaulted by a godman. These godmen enjoy a lot of freedom and power that makes it impossible for anyone to reach them with accusing fingers, let alone persecute them. 

But Allahabad court's judgement gives us hope that things are now changing. That people are now opening their blindfolds and looking at these godmen with logic. We hope that this vigour to protect women from the hands of misplaced religious definitions remains alive. 

 Views expressed are the author's own.