Twitter
Advertisement

Controversies and 'godmen' of India

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Many of India's prominent self proclaimed preachers, saints and godmen have attracted controversies on several occasions. While murder, rape, sexual assault and embezzlement only scrape the list of a much graver pool of accusations their popularity nevertheless remains intact among their followers.

Although they sermon on health and spirituality in their teachings and perhaps demand the following of several hundred thousand, the list of charges filed against them precedes them.

Here are India's few controversial 'gurus' and 'preachers',

1. 'Godman' Rampal

Recently, Sant Rampal came into spotlight after being charged with sedition, murder, attempt to murder and forgery. In 2006, Rampal termed the text of Arya Samaj as anti-social and even derogatory remarks against the founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayanand Saraswati which resulted in a clash between the followers of Rampal and Arya Samaj. In the same year, he was accused of fabricating the sale of his Karontha ashram land by impersonation. He has skipped the court hearings 42 times. Rampal's followers have tried to disrupt the court proceedings a number of times.

Recently, Haryana police arrested Rampal and rescued at least 15,000 'followers' after a two-day standoff against his supporters. His bail was cancelled by Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Also Read : 'Godman' Rampal surrendered but his cult didn’t​

2. Baba Ramdev

Well known for his televised yoga programmes, Baba Ramdev has been charged with tax invasion, irregular financial statements, land grabbing and theft of electricity. Later, he was accused of using human and animal bones in the preparation of the medicines in his Divya Pharmacy. 

Ramdev was also spotlight after he said in a statement that homosexuality is a disease and that it can be cured by yoga. 

Also Read : Baba 'Black Money' Ramdev caught on tape talking money with BJP candidate. But what was he hiding from media?

3. Asaram Bapu

Asaram Bapu who preaches the existence of 'One supreme conscious' is accused of sexually abusing a 16 year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur. He had claimed innocence and even addressed the girl as his daughter. He made the controversial remarks on the 'Nirbhaya gang rape' that the girl is equally responsible as she could have begged the assailants to stop and should have called them as brothers. This statement of Asaram Bapu angered women activists and harshly criticised him. 

In 2008, he and his son were under police investigation after the dead bodies of 2 boys were found at the banks of Sabarmati river near his ashram.

Asaram is in judicial custody for the rape charges against him.

Also Read: No urgency to release Asaram Bapu on bail on heath grounds: Supreme Court​

​4.  Swami Nithyananda​

Swami Nithyananda got into trouble after a video went viral on Tamil TV channels where he was seen in compromising position with an actress. He claimed that the video was morphed and denied to be the man present in the video. There were protests outside his ashram after the incident. However, Nithyananda's followers said that he is innocent and the video was an attempt to defame him.

In 2012, he was accused of rape by an Indian born American citizen. Nithyananda again denied those allegations.

Also Read : Medical tests exonerate Nithyananda of rape charge?

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement