A sessions court in Surat has sentenced Jain monk Shantisagarji Maharaj of the Digambar sect to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a 19-year-old college student in 2017. The verdict was delivered on Saturday by Additional District and Sessions Judge A.K. Shah.
The 56-year-old monk was also fined ₹25,000. According to public prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala, the court relied on the survivor’s testimony, medical examination, statements from prosecution witnesses, and supporting CCTV footage to convict the monk.
Incident occurred at Jain Dharamshala in 2017
The assault occurred at the Jain Dharamshala in Surat in October 2017. The complainant alleged that the monk had initially contacted her by phone after acquiring her number from her father, who was one of his followers.
On October 1, 2017, the woman, accompanied by her father and elder brother, travelled from Vadodara to Surat to visit the Mahavir Digambar Jain Temple. They later went to the Jain Dharamshala, where the monk was staying.
As per the woman’s statement, Shantisagarji separated her father and brother into different rooms under the pretext of performing religious rituals. He recited mantras and instructed them to stay inside until he gave permission to leave.
Taking advantage of the situation, the monk entered the room where the woman was alone and raped her. He threatened her with harm to her family if she resisted.
“She should visit him whenever he called”
Following the assault, the monk warned the woman to comply with his demands in the future. “She should visit him whenever he called, he told her,” stated the police report.
Jain monk already served major portion of sentence
Shantisagarji Maharaj has remained in judicial custody since the incident in October 2017. Given the time already served, he will now spend approximately two and a half more years behind bars.
Prosecution sought life sentence citing trauma
The prosecution had demanded a life sentence, citing the emotional and physical toll on the survivor. “The prosecution had sought a life sentence for him, highlighting the mental and physical trauma the victim underwent after being raped by someone her family revered,” Sukhadwala told PTI.
The judgment marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for the survivor, with the court upholding her testimony and ensuring accountability for the accused despite his religious standing.
