The charges under which Raghu Singamaneni, 50, was found guilty by a jury at the Crown court in Wood Green, London, include three counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted rape on four women.
According to the UK metropolitan police, Raghu, a resident of London Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, used his ‘position of authority’ to carry out a string of sexual assaults on hapless women. Detective Hussain Sayem, who investigated the case, said Raghu would advertise on a jobs app for women to come and work at the parlour.
“I have no doubt that Raghu thought these women would never speak out against him or would never be believed. He was wrong. These women had the courage to speak out and the jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict,” Hussain said.
In the first instance, Raghu invited a 17-year-old girl whom he met at the parlour for an interview and explained to her that she would have to undergo training. She met Raghu at the parlour the next day and offered her a glass of prosecco, an Italian white wine. She told cops that she became so intoxicated and was then taken by Raghu to a hotel where he attempted to rape her.
In the second instance, a 19-year-old woman was raped at her place of work on High Road, London N22. She told cops that Raghu had asked for a massage, insisted that she drink vodka and then raped her. In another instance, a 23-year-old woman went to meet Raghu in connection with a job advertisement. At their meeting at a hotel in Golders Green area in London , Raghu supplied her with alcohol, forcibly removed her clothes and raped her.
The last complaint pertained a 17-year-old girl who had applied for a masseuse job. She met Raghu in a hotel room where he offered her drinks and drugs, which she accepted before being raped by him.
Police officials said the girl left the hotel and called a friend who informed cops. Hussain said that it was entirely possible for Raghu may have attacked other women who did not come forward and report their ordeal to police.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect their privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)