A high profile Indian astrologer has been arrested following charges of sexual abuse of women who sought his services.
Swamiji Kishore Shastri, who advertised himself as India's famous astrologer, was arrested by a special police team from Slave Island in Colombo after they deployed two female decoys acting as mother and daughter.
He was arrested on Friday and was due to be produced before a magistrate yesterday and remanded until December 10.
The astrologer, who offered to solve problems related to love marriages, divorce, remarriage, failure of love, higher education and business problems, targeted wealthy women who called at his five-star apartment block.
Among those who fell victim were a gem merchant's wife, an army officer's wife and other wealthy women, police investigations have revealed.
The modus operandi of the astrologer was to first grant an appointment when telephone inquiries were made. On the given day when the prospective clients came to meet him, he would first charge Rs1,200 (Dh41) as the initial appointment fee.
He would then fix another day on which they would be required to give money ranging from Rs10,000 (Dh352) upwards running up to Rs200,000 (Dh7,325).
According to police, on the following day when the prospective client meets him he would start his 'astrological' consultation. After that he would get rid of the people who accompany them including the husband or boyfriend.
He had allegedly raped or molested women thereafter.
