Indian spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim poses for a photograph after he was spotted shopping in New Delhi on January 5, 2015. Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to god. Chandan Khanna / AFP Photo
Indian spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim poses for a photograph after he was spotted shopping in New Delhi on January 5, 2015. Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to god. Chandan Khanna / AFP Photo
Indian spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim poses for a photograph after he was spotted shopping in New Delhi on January 5, 2015. Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to god. Chandan Khanna / AFP Photo
Indian spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim poses for a photograph after he was spotted shopping in New Delhi on January 5, 2015. Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for

India’s ‘guru in bling’ probed by police over 400 castrations


  • English
  • Arabic

NEW DELHI // Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled guru for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to god.

The country’s top crime fighting agency has registered a case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, known as the “guru in bling” for his penchant for garish clothes and jewellery, over the operations in the country’s north.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Mr Rahim, 47, is being investigated for criminal intimidation and causing grievous bodily hurt, saying 400 castrations were allegedly carried out.

The guru, who heads the Dera Sacha Sauda organisation based in Haryana state, is already facing trial for conspiracy over the murder of a journalist in 2002 along with claims of sexually exploiting female followers.

The latest case was filed after one of his devotees, Hans Raj Chauhan, lodged a complaint in court alleging he was manipulated into having the “painful” operation at the ashram.

“They were told that only those who get castrated will be able to meet god,” Mr Chauhan’s lawyer, Navkiran Singh, said.

“We will put all the facts of the case to the court and seek compensation for the victims.”

He said doctors carried out the castrations over a period from 2000, but for years his client had been too scared to come forward.

The court asked the CBI to undergo an investigation into the alleged castrations.

Mr Rahim, who is described on the Dera Sacha Sauda website as a saint as well as an author, inventor, scientist, philosopher, philanthropist, peace activist and “the ultimate humanitarian”, could not immediately be contacted for comment.

Mr Rahim also stars in an action movie to be released later this month called “MSG: Messenger of God” in which the guru fights criminals, sings songs and is shown dousing himself in water in slow motion after a rugby game.

India has been rocked by numerous scandals involving popular gurus who are mostly Hindu ascetics claiming to possess mystical powers.

In November, police arrested Baba Rampal Maharaj after a long and violent siege at his ashram in Haryana when he refused to comply with court orders in a murder case.

In a bizarre case, devotees of a dead guru are fighting a court battle in Punjab state to preserve his body in a freezer, insisting he is only meditating.

* Agence France-Presse

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Captain Marvel

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law,  Ben Mendelsohn

4/5 stars

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets