As per press reports on 22nd February, 2024, a temple priest in Bhubaneswar, Odisha was arrested for crime against a woman, who was a tourist from Sweden. 24 year old Kundan Mahapatra had been a priest at Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. When a 28 year old Swedish tourist was praying, he has harassed her by inappropriate touch. The accused was caught when the offence was proved by a CCTV footage, following the complaint lodged by the victim. He was arrested on the charges of intent to outrage the modesty of a woman and sexual harassment, vide IPC sections 354 and 354-A. Press reports further reveal that the accused is a “Repeat Offender”.
On 9th July, 2023 he was arrested and imprisoned for molesting a local devotee. He was recently released on bail.
It is indeed shocking how this “Repeat Offender” was allowed to continue his service as a priest in that temple. Since the Lingaraj Temple is off-limits for non-Hindus, the culprit has taken advantage of the secluded spot and misbehaved. Lack of adequate security is also questionable. It is a matter of shame for us that the safety of a foreign tourist was threatened. Permitting habitual offenders, with a proven track record of crimes, to work as priests in temples is not fair. It is a pity that we have in temples, such wolves in the clothing of sheep. It is against the ‘divinity’ claimed by the orthodox.
