2 min readUpdated: Aug 27, 2026 01:57 PM IST
A US-based Hindu priest has been charged with sexual assault in Canada after allegedly telling a woman she was possessed by evil spirits and needed a special healing ritual, police said.
Investigators suspect there may be additional victims and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Allegations of sexual abuse
On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, officers from the Durham Regional Police East Division responded to a sexual assault call near Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East. According to the police, a local family had hired the services of Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, a travelling Hindu pandit (priest) from the US, to perform religious services at their home.
During the visit, the suspect allegedly convinced the victim that she was possessed by evil spirits and required a specialised ritual to heal. He then coerced her into accompanying him to a private location, where he sexually assaulted her under the pretence of conducting the healing rite.
Following the report, officers located and arrested the suspect without incident.
Who is Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj?
Police said the 50-year-old Maraj is a resident of Richmond Hill, New York.
He has been remanded to police custody pending a bail hearing. The Durham Regional Police have also released a photo of the suspect to assist in identifying any additional potential victims.
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Because the suspect travelled internationally to perform religious duties, investigators said that there could be other individuals who might have been targeted in similar schemes.
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