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RELIGIOUS LEADER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT

Posted on Monday April 14, 2025

Investigators with the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit have charged a religious leader with seven counts of Sexual Assault.

The suspect was running religious studies out of a residential property in the Town of Pickering. Between January 2021 and October 2024, a victim reported that they had been sexually assaulted by the suspect during spiritual study sessions that occurred in the Town of Pickering and the City of Markham.

Investigators learned a second victim was sexually assaulted by the suspect in December 2024.

York Regional Police is releasing an image of the suspect as investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. They are urged to contact police as soon as possible.

Charged:

  • Pravin RANJAN, 44, of City of Toronto

Charges:

  • Sexual Assault x7

A sexual assault includes any non-consensual contact of a sexual nature. York Regional Police would like to encourage anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to police. There is no statute of limitations for sexual offences and offenders can be prosecuted well after the date of the offence. If you are the survivor of sexual assault, you can report the incident online if:

  • You are not in immediate danger
  • The person who assaulted you is not present
  • There is no evidence present that may be collected by police (blood, semen, saliva, etc.). Evidence can be collected for up to 12 days after the sexual assault has occurred
  • You have access to a private email address, to which the suspect does not

If someone is not ready to report, however is seeking support, please contact York Region Victim Services victimservices-york.org or the Women’s Support Network womenssupportnetwork.ca. Additional resources and information can be found on our website http://www.yrp.ca/en/services/resources/sexualassaultsurvivorsguide.pdf.

Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

Visit our Community Safety Data Portal for complete stats and crime data within York Region. Crime prevention is our shared responsibility. Learn more about Operation Streetview.

Prepared by: Constable James Dickson
                    24-393399
                    April 14, 2025