Have not fled country, says godman in I-T dock

CHENNAI: Days after the Income Tax raids on the ashram and business establishments of the godman who went by the name of Kalki Bhagwan, across three southern states, the man at the centre of the controversy denied that he has fled the country.

In a video message to his followers, the controversial godman, born Vijayakumar Naidu, said neither he nor his wife have fled as alleged by some media reports.

Income Tax authorities said the massive five day operation resulted in the seizure of ₹64 crore of unaccounted cash, including ₹20 crore in US dollars, 90 kg gold jewellery, and also highlighted financial embezzlement and money laundering to the tune of ₹800 crore.

The searches were carried out across 40 locations in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chittoor, and Kuppam, and involved at least 300 IT officials and police personnel.

Putting up a brave face, the former insurance agent said he was “staying at the ashram at Nemam.”

Nemam, bordering Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, has a sprawling ashram of Kalki.

Meanwhile, the IT department has summoned Naidu’s son, Krishna and daughter-inlaw Preethi, in connection with the seizures made during the raids.

Krishna manages “Oneness Temple”, a spiritual university with ultra modern facilities at the organization’s HQ, and also runs a few construction firms with names such as While Lotus, Golden Lotus, Blue Water and Dream View. Krishna, who resides in Chennai, is said to have invested heavily in the business ventures of his associates, which too have come under the scanner

Naidu, , 70, was born at Ullanatham village near Gudiyattam in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. He quit his job at the Life Insurance Corp of India and in 1984, set up an educational institution to provide alternative education at Rajupeta.

It was here that he assumed his new name and in 1989 declared himself as Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu.