Odisha Police have arrested the head priest of an ashram in Dhenkanal district on charges of raping a 35-year-old woman inmate.

The incident reportedly occurred on August 4 at Mathakargola Ashram under the jurisdiction of Kamakshyanagar police station, news agency PTI reported.

According to the FIR lodged by the survivor, the 47-year-old priest allegedly assaulted her while she was sleeping in a room inside the ashram. She further stated that the accused verbally abused her when she resisted his advances.

The priest was arrested and produced before a local court on Saturday, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days.

“He was arrested on charges of rape and produced before a court here on Saturday, which sent him to jail for 14 days,” Suryamani Pradhan, Additional SP of Dhenkanal told PTI.

While being taken to jail, the accused denied the allegations, claiming that he had been falsely implicated.

Police said they are verifying the survivor’s statement and gathering additional evidence as part of the probe.