'Medal for sex': Bengaluru yoga instructor accused of repeated rape by teen student

Representational image

A 19-year-old yoga practitioner has filed a criminal complaint against a prominent instructor in west Bengaluru, accusing him of repeatedly raping her under the false pretence of securing her a national medal and a professional placement.

Police registered a case on August 30 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means) and 75 (sexual harassment), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, as the alleged abuse began when the victim was a minor, according to a report by TOI. Authorities are now attempting to trace the accused, who owns a yoga training institute and serves as the secretary of a related association.

The young woman, who has practised yoga for many years, stated in her complaint that the accused had known her since 2019. Their professional association deepened when she began participating in competitive events from 2021 onwards. A significant escalation occurred in November 2023, when she was 17 and travelled to Thailand with the teacher for a yoga championship. She alleged that he sexually harassed her during the trip, an incident that forced her to abandon the competition.

The victim later enrolled at the man’s training institute in 2024. It was there, she told police, that the abuse continued. The teacher allegedly leveraged his influence, promising to secure her a national-level medal and a job in the field. The complaint details that the most recent instance of sexual assault occurred on August 22.

A senior police officer was cited by TOI as saying that the ordeal came to light only after the young woman discovered she was pregnant. She had not previously informed her parents about the repeated harassment or the hollow promises made by the accused. In her statement, the victim asserted that she would provide authorities with the names of six to seven other girls who she claims were sexually abused in a similar manner by the same individual.