The Visakhapatnam police arrested Swami Poornananda, the 63-year-old head of an ashram in the city, for allegedly raping a minor resident of his ashram. The arrest follows a complaint from the 15-year-old victim who charged that Poornananda had forcibly confined her in the Swami Gnanananda Ashram at Venkojipalem and raped her. Speaking to the media, the minor girl, who managed to escape from the ashram, described her horrifying experiences and alleged that Poornananda tied her up and thrashed her in a room.
The minor, who lost her parents a few years ago, said that she was admitted to the ashram by her aunt after she completed Class 5. The victim added that the children at the ashram were made to work at the goshala and that a few of the residents left the ashram unable to stand the ill-treatment meted out to them. She shared her story with a fellow female passenger while travelling to Vijayawada after she escaped, and the latter helped her lodge a complaint. According to the police, the case has been transferred to Visakhapatnam and Poornananda was booked under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC, and Section 6 of the POCSO Act has also been invoked. The girl is currently undergoing medical examination at the Vijayawada government hospital.
According to reports, there were 12 orphans housed in the ashram, including four girls.
The ashram members, however, denied the sexual assault charges and said it was a conspiracy to seize the ashram's valuable lands.
In 2012, Poornananda was taken into custody on similar charges. He was accused of raping a 13-year-old at the time. Ch Vivekananda, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Disha police station, Visakhapatnam told TNM that Poornananda is still under trial in that case.