India, May 7 -- New Delhi

The Delhi High Court has denied bail to a maulvi, who is accused of raping a 17-year-old minor by allegedly claiming the girl was under the influence of an evil spirit and it could only be exorcised through obscene acts.

A bench of justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, in her April 29 verdict that was released later, said that the man exploited the minor victim's vulnerable physical and mental state, along with her family's blind faith in his spiritual healing. Rather than curing her illness, he allegedly abused her trust to assault her under the pretext of treatment, she said.

"This court is of the view that the material placed on record prima facie reflects that the applicant took undue advantage of the vulnerable ph...