The Ram Rahim model: 10 controversial 'gurus' in India

At least 30 people died and hundreds were injured following violence unleashed by followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect after their chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case. Ram Rahim, unfortunately, is no exception. Here are 10 controversial 'gurus'.
At least 30 people died and hundreds were injured following violence unleashed by followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect after their chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case. Ram Rahim, unfortunately, is no exception. Here are 10 controv
At least 30 people died and hundreds were injured following violence unleashed by followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect after their chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case. Ram Rahim, unfortunately, is no exception. Here are 10 controv
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Swami Premananda - Originally from Sri Lanka, Swami Premananda (Nov. 17 1951 – Feb. 21 2011) was a controversial 'godman' who established his ashrams in Tiruchy. He amassed a huge number of followers and, subsequently, wealth in Tamil Nadu. He was given two consecutive life sentences for raping 13 girls in 1997. By the time he was convicted, his ashram had branches in UK, Belgium, Switzerland and many other countries. He died on February 21, 2011 in Cuddalore Central Prison.
Swami Premananda - Originally from Sri Lanka, Swami Premananda (Nov. 17 1951 – Feb. 21 2011) was a controversial 'godman' who established his ashrams in Tiruchy. He amassed a huge number of followers and, subsequently, wealth in Tamil Nadu. He was given two consecutive life sentences for raping 13 girls in 1997. By the time he was convicted, his ashram had branches in UK, Belgium, Switzerland and many other countries. He died on February 21, 2011 in Cuddalore Central Prison.
Asaram Bapu - Extremely popular, the preacher of 'One Supreme Conscious', and a claimed follower of 'Advaita Vedanta', 76-year-old Asaram Bapu was arrested for a case of sexual assault against a minor in 2013. He was booked by the police on charges of wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, and rape. Public anger erupted when two boys died at his Motera Ashram, Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2008. Asaram was arrested when a 16-year old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her in Jaipur. He reportedly had 400 ashrams in India and abroad at the time of his conviction.
Asaram Bapu - Extremely popular, the preacher of 'One Supreme Conscious', and a claimed follower of 'Advaita Vedanta', 76-year-old Asaram Bapu was arrested for a case of sexual assault against a minor in 2013. He was booked by the police on charges of wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, and rape. Public anger erupted when two boys died at his Motera Ashram, Gandhinagar, Gujarat in 2008. Asaram was arrested when a 16-year old girl accused him of sexually assaulting her in Jaipur. He reportedly had 400 ashrams in India and abroad at the time of his conviction.
Swami Amrita Chaitanya / Santhosh Madhavan - A self-styled spiritual motivator, Swami Amrita Chaitanya or Santhosh Madhavan, was wanted by the Interpol for frauds he had reportedly committed in the United Arab Emirates. Madhavan was arrested for fraud on May 18, 2008 in Kochi, Kerala. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping two minor girls and producing pornographic videos of him molesting underage girls. Chaitanya had established a trust called 'Shantitheeram' and a 16-suite ashram in Kochi.
Swami Amrita Chaitanya / Santhosh Madhavan - A self-styled spiritual motivator, Swami Amrita Chaitanya or Santhosh Madhavan, was wanted by the Interpol for frauds he had reportedly committed in the United Arab Emirates. Madhavan was arrested for fraud on May 18, 2008 in Kochi, Kerala. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping two minor girls and producing pornographic videos of him molesting underage girls. Chaitanya had established a trust called 'Shantitheeram' and a 16-suite ashram in Kochi.
Swami Sadachari Sai Baba Omji -  The Mumbai based 'guru' was famous for performing rituals for celebrities. He appeared on the reality show Bigg Boss 10 and is known for making communal remarks. According to the Delhi Police, he was involved in seven cases under the Arms act and TADA. His controversial actions in public glare include - slapping a woman on Television, issuing a 'casual' death threat to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling environmental activist Vimlendu Jha a CIA agent and terrorist, and planning to kidnap Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan because they married Hindu girls.
Swami Sadachari Sai Baba Omji - The Mumbai based 'guru' was famous for performing rituals for celebrities. He appeared on the reality show Bigg Boss 10 and is known for making communal remarks. According to the Delhi Police, he was involved in seven cases under the Arms act and TADA. His controversial actions in public glare include - slapping a woman on Television, issuing a 'casual' death threat to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling environmental activist Vimlendu Jha a CIA agent and terrorist, and planning to kidnap Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan because they married Hindu girls.
Sant Rampal - Another self-styled godman, 65-year-old Sant Rampal has a massive 12-acre ashram in Barwala in Haryana. Rampal considers himself the successor of 'the supreme god' Kabir. In 1999, he founded the Satlok Ashram in Rohtak, Haryana and followed it up with other ashrams in Rohtak as well as Jhajjar districts. He was arrested by Haryana police after they found dead bodies of five women and an 18-month-old infant at his Satlok ashram in Hisar, Haryana. Police faced stiff resistance when thousands of his followers, armed with bottles of acid and guns and coordinating the attack with walkie-talkies tried to prevent his arrest.
Sant Rampal - Another self-styled godman, 65-year-old Sant Rampal has a massive 12-acre ashram in Barwala in Haryana. Rampal considers himself the successor of 'the supreme god' Kabir. In 1999, he founded the Satlok Ashram in Rohtak, Haryana and followed it up with other ashrams in Rohtak as well as Jhajjar districts. He was arrested by Haryana police after they found dead bodies of five women and an 18-month-old infant at his Satlok ashram in Hisar, Haryana. Police faced stiff resistance when thousands of his followers, armed with bottles of acid and guns and coordinating the attack with walkie-talkies tried to prevent his arrest.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda -  On February 2013, the Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara conferred the title of 'Mahamandaleshwar' to Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The forty-year old godman is believed to be an avatar by his disciples. He repeatedly went into hiding when allegations against him of sexual assault surfaced. His most (in)famous moment was when a leaked video showed him engaging in sexual activities with South Indian actress Ranjitha. The 'Swami' has ashrams in Chennai, Bidadi (Karnataka) and Las Vegas, United States.
Paramahamsa Nithyananda - On February 2013, the Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhara conferred the title of 'Mahamandaleshwar' to Paramahamsa Nithyananda. The forty-year old godman is believed to be an avatar by his disciples. He repeatedly went into hiding when allegations against him of sexual assault surfaced. His most (in)famous moment was when a leaked video showed him engaging in sexual activities with South Indian actress Ranjitha. The 'Swami' has ashrams in Chennai, Bidadi (Karnataka) and Las Vegas, United States.
Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand -  The Swami reportedly ran a sex racket and was arrested twice in Delhi and later in Mumbai. Forty-six year old Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale or Shiv Murat Dwivedi was backed by around 2,000 people when investigators tried to enter the 'Chitrakoot' ashram. He was arrested in 1997 for running a sex racket and in 1998 for receiving stolen property.
Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand - The Swami reportedly ran a sex racket and was arrested twice in Delhi and later in Mumbai. Forty-six year old Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale or Shiv Murat Dwivedi was backed by around 2,000 people when investigators tried to enter the 'Chitrakoot' ashram. He was arrested in 1997 for running a sex racket and in 1998 for receiving stolen property.
Radhe Maa - Straight out of a devotional soap opera, Radhe Maa, who is always dressed like a North Indian bride in red and gold landed in trouble the when a woman from Mumbai accused the 'godwoman' of instigating her husband's family to torture her mentally and physically. Radhe Maa was also booked for obscenity and cheating when videos of her being carried around during satsangs surfaced in 2015. Through the Shri Radhe Guru Maa Charitable Trust, Radhe Maa's divyadarshans were routinely promoted in Mumbai city. But she was banned from entering the Nashik Mahakumbh Mela by the Akhil  Bharatiya Akhara Parishad in August 29, 2015.
Radhe Maa - Straight out of a devotional soap opera, Radhe Maa, who is always dressed like a North Indian bride in red and gold landed in trouble the when a woman from Mumbai accused the 'godwoman' of instigating her husband's family to torture her mentally and physically. Radhe Maa was also booked for obscenity and cheating when videos of her being carried around during satsangs surfaced in 2015. Through the Shri Radhe Guru Maa Charitable Trust, Radhe Maa's divyadarshans were routinely promoted in Mumbai city. But she was banned from entering the Nashik Mahakumbh Mela by the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad in August 29, 2015.
Chandraswami - Nemi Chand Jain or Chandraswami (1948 – 2017), who claimed to be an astrologer, healer and a tantric was accused of financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996 for cheating a London-based businessman. He also had a volume dedicated to him by the Jain Commission for his involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. Chandraswami was famous for his reported connections with the top politicians. He died on 23 May, 2017.
Chandraswami - Nemi Chand Jain or Chandraswami (1948 – 2017), who claimed to be an astrologer, healer and a tantric was accused of financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996 for cheating a London-based businessman. He also had a volume dedicated to him by the Jain Commission for his involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. Chandraswami was famous for his reported connections with the top politicians. He died on 23 May, 2017.

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