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'Yoga guru' held for alleged molestation

The 'guru', identified as Shivram Raut of Shiom Tirth Yog Academy in Wadala, has been accused of molesting a complainant thrice at her Sewree home

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Self-styled yoga guru Shivram Raut
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A self-styled yoga guru was held by the RAK Marg police for alleged molestation after at least five women approached the police against him. The 'guru', identified as Shivram Raut of Shiom Tirth Yog Academy in Wadala, has been accused of molesting a complainant thrice at her Sewree home.

According to the police, a complaint was registered by the victim last Wednesday against Raut for allegedly molesting and inappropriately touching her at her residence on the pretext of teaching her yoga. The police said Raut was running yoga classes for the past ten years at a civic school in Sewree every Sunday. The victim and her husband had been attending Raut's yoga classes since 2010.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that Raut would never visit any client's home to teach yoga, but in November 2016, he visited her home on the pretext of teaching her new asanas. The victim alleged that Raut then touched her inappropriately, while also asking her to provide sexual favours in return for salvation. From November till April, Raut molested the victim at her home several times, she alleged.

The victim initially did not inform anyone, but when Raut continued to harass her, she narrated her ordeal to her husband and they approached the police to register the complaint Raut, police said.

"I had audio-recorded conversations between Raut and my wife when he made vulgar statements while talking to her. He has done the same with other women," the victim's husband told DNA.

"The accused works for the Mumbai Port Trust, and runs yoga classes on Sunday and Saturday. After registering the case, we recorded the statements of five more women who said that the accused would pass vulgar comments while teaching yoga, and would get intimate with them during the classes. We arrested him on Saturday and he was produced in court on Sunday. He was granted bail," said Bhagwat Bansod, Senior Police Inspector of RAK Marg Police Station.

Victim's husband had also complained Deputy Commissioner (Education) F/South ward regarding the sexual exploitation being done by Raut. Following which Assistant commissioner F/South ward has sent notice to the Yog Academy, asking to close their activities at the civic school.

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