Karnataka priest arrested for raping woman under exorcism guise; cop suspended for tipping off accused
Synopsis
A Karnataka priest evaded arrest for nearly a month in an alleged rape case — reportedly with the help of a police constable who was tipping him off. The accused, Satish Paatri, allegedly exploited a family's superstition about evil spirits to sexually assault a woman from Hassan at multiple locations. A cop has now been suspended, putting police accountability under the spotlight alongside the crime itself.
Key Takeaways
Satish Paatri , a priest from Karnataka , was arrested in Bengaluru's J.P.
Nagar for allegedly raping a woman multiple times under the guise of exorcism.
The alleged assaults took place at Medanahaklu village near the Durgaparameshwari temple and at Kuduregundi near Theerthahalli in Shivamogga district .
Cases have been registered under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017 and under rape charges at Chikkamagaluru district stations.
Constable Kantesh of N.R.
Pura police station has been suspended for allegedly leaking investigation details to the accused, enabling him to evade arrest for nearly a month.
An earlier allegation that the accused forced a minor girl to drink chicken blood during a purported ritual has also surfaced during the investigation.
Karnataka Police have arrested a priest, identified as Satish Paatri, in Bengaluru for allegedly raping a woman on multiple occasions under the pretext of performing exorcism rituals to drive away evil spirits. A police constable has also been suspended for allegedly leaking investigation details to the accused and helping him evade arrest, police said on Monday, 12 October 2026.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police, the accused allegedly targeted a woman from Hassan after convincing her family that he could rid her of spirits they believed had possessed her. He reportedly took her to Medanahaklu village on the pretext of visiting the Durgaparameshwari temple, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. He is also accused of taking her to Kuduregundi, near Theerthahalli in Shivamogga district, where the alleged assault was repeated.
Month-Long Evasion and Arrest
Following the registration of complaints, the accused absconded for nearly a month. Acting on intelligence that he had taken shelter in Bengaluru, the Koppa police launched a targeted operation and arrested him from the J.P. Nagar locality of the city. Cases have been registered at N.R. Pura and Koppa police stations in Chikkamagaluru district.
Charges and Earlier Allegations
Police have invoked the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017 at N.R. Pura police station, while Koppa police have separately registered rape charges. During the preliminary probe, investigators reportedly uncovered an earlier case in which the accused allegedly forced a minor girl to consume chicken blood under the guise of an exorcism ritual. Videos purportedly showing similar practices by the priest subsequently went viral on social media, triggering widespread public outrage.
Constable Suspended for Tipping Off Accused
Further investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly been receiving inside information from within the police department. Constable Kantesh, attached to N.R. Pura police station, allegedly shared case updates and alerted the accused before officers arrived to detain him, allowing Paatri to change locations and escape each time. Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Dayama ordered the constable's suspension following an internal probe into the alleged leak.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities say further investigation is underway. This case highlights a troubling pattern of superstition-based exploitation of vulnerable individuals — particularly women — by those who claim religious or spiritual authority, a problem that prompted Karnataka to enact dedicated black magic legislation in 2017. The police department's internal accountability mechanism is also under scrutiny given the constable's alleged complicity.
Point of View
And a breach of institutional trust within the police force itself. The constable's alleged role in tipping off the accused is arguably as damaging as the crime — it signals that internal accountability mechanisms in Karnataka Police need urgent strengthening. The Karnataka black magic law of 2017 was designed precisely to address predatory exploitation of this kind, yet a near-month-long evasion was possible in part because of inside assistance. The broader question this raises is how many such cases go unreported or uninvestigated when the very system meant to protect victims is compromised from within.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Satish Paatri and why was he arrested?
Satish Paatri is a priest arrested by Karnataka Police for allegedly raping a woman from Hassan on multiple occasions. He reportedly exploited the family's belief in spirit possession to gain access to the woman, committing the alleged assaults at two separate locations under the pretext of exorcism rituals.
What laws have been invoked against the accused priest?
Police have registered a case under the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017 at N.R. Pura police station, and rape charges have been filed separately at Koppa police station, both in Chikkamagaluru district.
Why was a police constable suspended in this case?
Constable Kantesh, attached to N.R. Pura police station, was suspended for allegedly leaking investigation updates to the accused, alerting him before police arrived to arrest him. This reportedly allowed the priest to change locations and evade capture for nearly a month. Chikkamagaluru SP Jitendra Kumar Dayama ordered the suspension after an internal probe.
Are there other allegations against the accused beyond this case?
Yes. During preliminary investigation, police reportedly uncovered an earlier allegation that the accused had forced a minor girl to drink chicken blood during a purported ritual to exorcise evil spirits. Videos purportedly showing similar practices subsequently went viral on social media, triggering public outrage.
What is the Karnataka black magic law under which the case was filed?
The Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Act, 2017 criminalises practices such as claiming to drive away evil spirits, performing rituals that physically harm individuals, and exploiting superstitious belief for personal gain. It was enacted specifically to protect vulnerable individuals from such exploitation.
