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Court insists priest in sexual assault case must continue wearing electronic monitor

R S Shankar

The self-appointed priest, who has a history of "womb cleansing," says he cannot afford the $ 100-per month surveillance electronic monitor that he must wear as per court order.

But a court in Houston ordered yesterday that Bhogeshwernand Sharma, who is under probation for sexually assaulting an Arkansas woman and is facing a trial in the alleged raping of a Houston woman, should continue using the monitor. He is considered a flight risk.

Sharma's case is discussed in whispers in the Indian community. Many people believe that many Indian women have fallen a prey to his "womb cleansing" rituals, but do not want to report it to officials because they are too embarrassed. The woman who brought the rape charge against Sharma is also a Hindu.

Sharma, 37, is free on a $ 50,000 bail and is appealing the first conviction. The court also reiterated that he cannot go near an airport or a passport office and that he should continue reporting to court every week. His bail could be revoked if he fails to do so. His American passport has been seized by officials.

His lawyer, Katherine Scandino, has said the restrictions on him are severe, but the court insists he cannot leave Harris County, and any job he takes up should be first verified by officials.

Sharma was charged last June with assaulting the 20-year-old woman. The charge came the same day jurors slapped him with 10 years probation for assaulting a 21-year-old woman in 1998. According to officials, the 20-year-old woman was assaulted exactly a day before Sharma could be sentenced for his attack on the Arkansas woman.

According to the Arkansas woman, Sharma assaulted her when she visited him in Houston for religious consultation along with her mother. He allegedly bullied her into sex under the pretext of a religious ritual, she swore under oath. The woman's mother and aunt also told the court that he had done the same thing to them in Arkansas the previous year.

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