A teacher hailing from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and alleged exploitation at the Divine Mercy Dhyana Illam located in Mangalagiri village of Thoothukudi district.
The teacher, who got married in 2013 and has an eight-year-old daughter, had sought solace at the church amid marital discord but ended up ensnared in a sordid tale of manipulation and exploitation.
The teacher, residing in Chennai with her husband, turned to Divine Mercy Dyana Illam to seek spiritual guidance. Church Father Micheal Magilan, a trusted figure within the congregation, introduced her to his helper, Joshua, claiming that Joshua possessed “unique expertise” in prayer.
As events unfolded, Joshua began manipulating the vulnerable teacher, convincing her that she was afflicted by malevolent spirits and encouraging her to pursue a divorce as the path to a peaceful life and spiritual healing. Succumbing to Joshua’s influence, the teacher initiated divorce proceedings with her husband, unwittingly setting the stage for a deeply troubling series of events.
Joshua claiming that her house was under the grip of evil spirits started frequenting eventually the woman was lured by his enticing words.
Subsequently, Joshua took advantage of the teacher’s emotional vulnerability and initiated a private affair. Both of them apparently started getting close and allegedly had sexual relations.
The affair plunged to its nadir when financial exploitation became a central feature, with the teacher sending money to Joshua on his request. She apparently gave money to Joshua in lakhs. However, when she requested the return of her funds, a bitter confrontation ensued.
Further revelations have exposed Joshua as already being married with children, despite deceitfully representing himself as unmarried to the teacher. Upon discovering Joshua’s true nature, the teacher fell into a state of despair, prompting her return to Thoothukudi.
In an act of protest, she staged a dharna in front of Divine Mercy Dyana Illam, demanding justice.
“He will stay with me and do everything but won’t marry me. He will claim he is a saint but will have a separate wife at home.”, she told reporters who had come to cover the confrontation.
The teacher confronted Joshua, attempting to seize his phone and insisting that he marry her. In response, Joshua uttered derogatory and hurtful remarks, stating, “Are you even a girl? No one in this world will marry you.” The heated exchange between the two individuals saw them spilling intimate sexual aspects of their relationship in public view, making even the onlookers cringe.
As the situation escalated, Joshua accused the teacher of filming him nude when they were close and using that video to demand 5 lakh. He also said that she filmed him while bathing without consent through another man to blackmail him.
Church Father Micheal Magilan who had introduced the teacher to Joshua can be seen videotaping the altercation, ignoring the mounting tension and distress in the process. The teacher accused him of exploiting girls who seek his help in spiritual life.
The teacher has lodged a written complaint with the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who has said that further action can be taken only after hearing both the parties.
Other Incidents Of Pastors Indulging In Sexual Exploitation
There have been many incidents where pastors have indulged in sexual exploitation of those who come to them for spiritual solace.
In June 2023, a shocking case of prolonged sexual abuse has come to light, resulting in the arrest of pastor Vinod Joshua of Thoothukudi, who had been sexually harassing a girl since she was 14 years old and had continued his sexual abuse even after marriage.
Pastor Benedict Anto (29) of the Kanyakumari district’s Kollangode area was arrested and imprisoned after videos of him sexually exploiting a woman surfaced on social media. He was allegedly in a relationship with three women from the same family.
Stanley Kumar, a preacher at a church in Magizhvannanaathapuram near Alankulam in Tenkasi district, was arrested by police for sexually abusing women.
In another such incident, the news of a 50-year-old man claiming to be an advocate and church employee raped a Class XI student several times in the guise of assisting her financially surfaced a few days ago.
In January 2023, Tiruppur police arrested a Christian pastor who molested a 15-year-old schoolgirl and a number of working women who stay in a private hostel.
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