PUNE: The Koregaon Park police arrested a 30-year-old priest of a famous temple in Raigad district on Sunday, for allegedly raping a 25-year-old MBA professional at a city-based five star hotel in January.

The priest, Omkar Balla Puranik from Raigad district, has been remanded in police custody till March 27.

The rape survivor works as an executive in a bank and was recently transferred from Nagpur to Pune. She is in the process of taking charge of her new post.

At present, she stays with her maternal uncle and aunt in Warje-Malwadi. In 2013, she had visited the temple, where she met Puranik through another priest to perform some rituals.

Sub-inspector Sheetal Jadhav said on Tuesday, "Puranik became friendly with the woman and regularly contacted her on her cellphone. On January 19 and 20, Puranik stayed in a five-star hotel in Pune. He allegedly raped the MBA professional in his room, promising to marry her."

The woman later found out that Puranik was already married and also had a daughter, Jadhav said.

Two months after the incident, the woman registered a complaint against the priest. Puranik was arrested from his residence under sections of the Indian Penal Code, she added.

