Sex-for-heaven preacher lands in jail

VISAKHAPATNAM: Preachers say that people will have a place in heaven if they offer prayers to the God or serve the needy. But a pastor allegedly exploited gullible women by promising them a place in heaven if they had sex with him - the God's own messenger.

He had been reportedly exploiting women in this way for the last eight years and his game ended when a complaint was lodged against him at Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram district.

A day after the arrest of Doddi Dayasagar (37) at Kothavalasa following a complaint from a 40-year-old woman of Visakhapatnam, another victim lodged a complaint with the police.

Sources said seven more women and their families have approached the police and lodged oral complaints but refused to lodge a written complaint fearing social stigma. The police suspect that more women fell prey to the pastor and urged the victims to approach them promising to keep their names confidential.

Dayasagar, a native of Gnanapuram area in Visakhapatnam, has been running the Jewish Garden of Eden religious congregation for more than eight years. Initially, he was operating in Visakhapatnam but shifted to Kothavalasa six years ago.

Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the accused had developed sexual relations with women promising them peace and wealth in this world and also a place in the heaven. About 300 people from the religious community were members of the society which largely consisted of women.

'Ever since he set up the religious society in Visakhapatnam, Dayasagar has been exploiting women promising them a spectacular afterlife. Many women walked into his trap but kept silent. We urge the victims to help us,' Vizianagaram DSP S Srinivas said.

During interrogation, Dayasagar told the police that he completed his post-graduation in anthropology from Andhra University but pretended as a PhD holder to the members of his religious group. The police are also investigating the properties of the pastor, who resides in a swanky four-storeyed building at Kothavalasa town, about 30 km from Visakhapatnam.

Enquiries are being made as to whether the organisation received any foreign funding. It is learnt that there is no such religious group named Jewish Garden of Eden anywhere in the country. The police, who raided the premises and arrested the pastor, are also investigating his unaccounted wealth.

Meanwhile, family members of Dayasagar, including wife, along with 50 others stormed the Kothavalasa police station on Saturday. They alleged that the police had framed him and staged a dharna demanding his release. Tension prevailed for sometime before the police were forced to use mild force and disperse the crowd.