Self-Styled Godman Arrested in Rape Case by Pune Police Remanded to Custody Till April 4
Pune, 28th March 2026: Self-styled godman Rishikesh Vaidya, arrested in a rape case by Pune City police was produced before the Lashkar court in Wanowarie on Saturday and has been remanded to police custody till April 4, officials said.
The accused was nabbed by Police from the Pimpri area following allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman after claiming to be an incarnation of Lord Mahadev. A case has been registered at the Manjari police station.
Police said Vaidya was traced and detained while he was travelling towards Pune. The case was initially registered in Vasai and later transferred to Pune for further investigation.
According to the complaint, the survivor came in contact with the accused through social media in 2023. During a meeting in Pune, he allegedly claimed divine identity and later took her to a lodge in Manjari, where he is accused of administering an intoxicant and sexually assaulting her.
Investigators said the accused also allegedly recorded images during the incident. Based on the complaint, a case was registered and a search operation was launched. Police said further investigation is underway.
