Temple assistant arrested for sexual assault, blackmail of Bengaluru woman
The Karnataka police arrested a 40 year-old temple assistant from Kerala’s Thrissur on Sunday, June 15, for allegedly raping and blackmailing a Bengaluru-based woman under the pretext of warding off ‘black magic’.The accused, identified as Arun TA, is a BA graduate who worked as an assistant to the priest at the Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami temple in Thrissur. According to the complaint, the woman got married in 2006 and lost her husband in 2016. Since then, she has been raising their two sons alone. She was going through a difficult phase due to a court case related to a land dispute, when she came across an Instagram post about the Perigottukara Devasthanam temple in Thrissur, Kerala. The post featured testimonies claiming that all life problems would be solved if one paid Rs 24,000 at the temple.On November 16, 2024, she visited the temple along with a few friends. At the temple counter, they made the payment. However, since they did not understand Malayalam, Arun approached them, saying he could speak Tamil. The complainant, who understood Tamil, accepted his help during the poojas.After the temple rituals, Arun allegedly told her that someone had cast an evil spell on her and she needed a more elaborate pooja. He took her phone number and said he would perform the rituals remotely over the phone.In March 2025, Arun allegedly contacted her and began harassing her. She wrote in her complaint that he coerced her into making video calls and pressured her to appear naked during these calls, claiming it was part of the pooja process. The woman further alleged that he threatened her, claiming he had recorded the videos and would harm her using black magic if she didn’t comply.Arun also allegedly forced her to return to the temple for a "special pooja" and told her that the temple priest, Unni Damodaran, had seen her video and was expecting her to "cooperate." When she returned to the temple on May 10, 2025, Arun allegedly took her to a room, sexually assaulted her, and continued to threaten her afterward. She also says in the complaint that Unni waited outside when Arun assaulted her. Unni Damodaran is currently at large. The woman‘s complaint also states that Arun warned her against approaching the police, saying he would harm her children using black magic.As the harassment intensified, she informed her family and approached the Bellandur police. Based on her complaint, Arun was arrested, and is currently in custody, while further investigation is underway.Peringottukara Devasthanam, a temple with deity worship of Vishnumaya, has recently become popular on Instagram through celebrity visits and endorsements. Currently, the temple's Instagram handle has over 1,64,000 followers.
THE Karnataka police arrested a 40 year-old temple assistant from Thrissur on Sunday, June 15, for allegedly raping and blackmailing a Bengaluru-based woman under the pretext of warding off ‘black magic’.
The accused, identified as Arun TA, is a BA graduate who worked as an assistant to the priest at the Peringottukara Devasthanam Sree Vishnumaya Swami temple in Thrissur.
According to the complaint, the woman got married in 2006 and lost her husband in 2016. Since then, she has been raising their two sons alone. She was going through a difficult phase due to a court case related to a land dispute, when she came across an Instagram post about the Perigottukara Devasthanam temple in Thrissur.
The post featured testimonies claiming that all life problems would be solved if one paid Rs 24,000 at the temple.
On November 16, 2024, she visited the temple along with a few friends. At the temple counter, they made the payment. However, since they did not understand Malayalam, Arun approached them, saying he could speak Tamil. The complainant, who understood Tamil, accepted his help during the poojas.
After the temple rituals, Arun allegedly told her that someone had cast an evil spell on her and she needed a more elaborate pooja. He took her phone number and said he would perform the rituals remotely over the phone.
In March 2025, Arun allegedly contacted her and began harassing her. She wrote in her complaint that he coerced her into making video calls and pressured her to appear naked during these calls, claiming it was part of the pooja process. The woman further alleged that he threatened her, claiming he had recorded the videos and would harm her using black magic if she didn’t comply.
Arun also allegedly forced her to return to the temple for a "special pooja" and told her that the temple priest, Unni Damodaran, had seen her video and was expecting her to "cooperate."
When she returned to the temple on May 10, 2025, Arun allegedly took her to a room, sexually assaulted her, and continued to threaten her afterward. She also says in the complaint that Unni waited outside when Arun assaulted her. Unni Damodaran is currently at large.
The woman‘s complaint also states that Arun warned her against approaching the police, saying he would harm her children using black magic.
As the harassment intensified, she informed her family and approached the Bellandur police. Based on her complaint, Arun was arrested, and is currently in custody, while further investigation is underway.
Peringottukara Devasthanam, a temple with deity worship of Vishnumaya, has recently become popular on Instagram through celebrity visits and endorsements. Currently, the temple's Instagram handle has over 1,64,000 followers.
