The Durham Regional Police said the incident came to light on August 25, 2026, when officers from the East Division responded to a sexual assault call in the area of Harmony Road North and Conlin Road East.

Police identified the suspect as Rajendranauth Doodnauth Maraj, a Hindu priest from the United States.

“The victim and her family employed a Hindu pandit (priest) from the United States of America to visit them and perform a religious ceremony,” police said in a statement.

According to police, Maraj deceived the woman into believing that she was possessed by evil spirits and required a specific ceremony to be healed.

The suspect allegedly exploited the situation by arranging for the woman to attend a private location, where he sexually assaulted her while claiming to perform the religious ceremony, police said.

Maraj has since been taken into custody.

Police have expressed concerns that there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with information or who may have had a similar experience to come forward.