Priest Molested Girls inside the Temple

Goa, Aug 23: A former temple priest accused of molesting two girls inside Mangueshi Temple surrendered before a court in Goa recently. He was arrested by the police officials and has been remanded to two days in police custody.

According to the details, Dhanajay Bhave (51), who had been absconding for over a month, was booked for molesting two girls inside the temple in June.

In two separate incidents, the priest allegedly molested the girls by hugging and kissing them near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

According to the complainant, the priest tried to kiss her near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple while she was on a visit to the famous shrine in Ponda taluka, about 20km from Panaji.

The alleged incident took place last month, but the complaint was filed recently.

The first molestation case was filed on July 19. The second victim, from Mumbai, came forward a couple of days after the first complaint was registered.

The accused was subsequently dismissed from the temple's services.