Agencies

Mumbai, Mar 19: In a shocking case, a man allegedly raped his daughter repeatedly over a span of nine years at the behest of an occultist, who said the act would bring prosperity to the family.

The 21-year-old victim, who had been silent about the incident, mustered courage to approach the police after her businessman-father attempted to rape her 15-year-old younger sister.

Besides the father, the Mira Road police in neighbouring Thane district arrested the victim's mother for abetting the crime and also the occultist, Hasmukh Rathod.

The 60-year-old businessman K Chavan has been sent to police custody till March 21. The court has also sent Chavan's wife and a 'tantrik' to police custody till March 21st.

According to police, the husband and wife were under the influence of the occultist, who told them in July 2000 that the family would prosper if the father were to have a sexual relationship with his elder daughter, who was then 12.

The victim told the police that she could not muster the courage to approach anyone about the incident. But when her father attempted to rape her younger sister, she approached her maternal uncle after which a police complaint was filed, Additional Superintendent of Police Sashikant Mahavarkar told

In November 2008, Rathod told the businessman to start having a sexual relationship with his younger daughter also.

Police arrested the three last evening. The occultist (tantrik) was manhandled by local residents when he was being taken to the police station.

The family, originally from Gujarat, resides in an apartment on Mira-Bhayander Road.

Both the girls are currently staying with their maternal uncle and grandmother.