Kerala preacher allegedly rapes teen girl citing purification ritual
Muhammed Niyas Jouhari was arrested on Sunday for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl as part of a purification ritual.
Kerala police arrested a popular Islamic preacher, Muhammed Niyas Jouhari, on Sunday for allegedly sexually abusing a minor girl repeatedly over two months last year, according to The Indian Express.
The 34-year-old, a native of Kollam, has been sent to judicial custody. He was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for rape and criminal intimidation.
An officer from the Ochira Police in Kollam said Jouhari allegedly convinced the victim's grandmother that she was under the influence of an evil spirit. The officer stated the preacher allegedly lured the 16-year-old girl and her grandmother to his rented premises to perform a purification ritual.
The abuse allegedly began last October. The officer said the girl recently shared the incident with her friends, which led to the case. Police considered medical reports and mobile phone chats before making the arrest.
Jouhari runs the Habibiyyah Islamic Academy and has over 2.25 lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel. Police said they will examine his digital gadgets.