‘Goddess appeared in my dream’: Priest held after dressing Kali Mata idol as Mother Mary in Mumbai temple

Mumbai: Devotees at a temple in Chembur were shocked to find the idol of Hindu Goddess Kali Mata dressed as Mother Mary, leading to the arrest of the temple priest, police said on Tuesday.

According to officials from the RCF police station, a video circulating on social media shows the Kali Mata idol adorned in attire resembling that of Jesus Christ’s mother. Visitors to the temple on Sunday were taken aback by the unusual sight and alerted local authorities.

When questioned by devotees, the temple priest, identified as Ramesh, reportedly said that the Goddess appeared in his dream and instructed him to “adorn her in the form of Mother Mary.”

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for hurting religious sentiments. The priest was subsequently arrested and produced before a local court, which remanded him to two days of police custody, officials said.

Police are now investigating whether the incident was part of an organised plan or if others were involved, the official added.