Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, a 50-year-old Hindu priest from New York, was charged with one count of sexual assault after allegedly assaulting a woman under the guise of performing a religious ceremony in Oshawa, Ontario. According to police, the victim's family had hired Maraj to conduct a ritual to "heal" the woman, who was allegedly convinced she was possessed by evil spirits. The incident occurred on Tuesday at a private location in the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East, where police later arrested Maraj without incident. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
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Story summary
Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, a 50-year-old Hindu priest from Richmond Hill, New York, has been charged with one count of sexual assault in Oshawa, Ontario. The alleged incident occurred after the victim's family hired Maraj to perform a religious ceremony, during which he claimed the woman was possessed by evil spirits and needed a special ritual to be healed. Maraj allegedly convinced the woman to attend a private location, where he sexually assaulted her under the guise of continuing the ceremony. Police responded to a complaint on Tuesday and arrested Maraj without incident. He is being held for a bail hearing, and investigators believe there may be additional victims. A photograph of Maraj has been released on the Durham Regional Police website, and anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Cronin or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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A Hindu priest has been charged with sexual assault after allegedly assaulting a woman while claiming to perform a religious ceremony in Oshawa, Durham Regional Police said.
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Police → charge → Oshawa
Police said officers responded Tuesday to a sexual assault complaint in the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East.
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officers → say → Road
Investigators allege the victim’s family had hired a Hindu priest from the United States to conduct a religious ceremony.
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family → allege → ceremony
Police said the accused convinced the woman she was possessed by evil spirits and required a special ritual to be healed.
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she → say → ritual
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The priest then allegedly persuaded the woman to attend a private location, where he sexually assaulted her under the guise of performing the ceremony, police said.
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police → get → ceremony
Officers later arrested the suspect without incident.
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Officers → arrest → incident
Police identified the accused as Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, 50, of Richmond Hill, N.Y.
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Police → identify → Hill
He is charged with one count of sexual assault and was held for a bail hearing.
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He → charge → hearing
Investigators say they believe there may be additional victims and have released a photograph of the accused on the Durham Regional Police website.
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they → say → website
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Cronin of the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1605, or Durham Regional Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Anyone → ask → TIPS
The charge has not been proven in court.
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charge → prove → court
