Alwar godman charged with rape

A 58-year-old selfstyled godman in Rajasthan’s Alwar allegedly raped a 21-yearold law student after promising her to make her a judge, police said on Thursday, the latest in a series of scandals involving dubious faith leaders.

Police said the man – Alwarbased Kaushlendra Falahari Maharaj who commands a strong following across India – allegedly raped the woman devotee on August 7 when she went to his ashram to offer her first stipend as a token of respect. The woman, a resident of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, lodged an FIR and state police took up the case on September 11.

“The family members of the victim have been devotees of the Maharaj for the past two decades. Recently, the woman, who is a law student, joined an internship at a company through the godman’s recommendation…. she came to Alwar to give the Maharaj ₹3,000 that she got as a stipend,” said Shishram Meena, SHO, Aravali Vihar police station, Alwar.

Police said he allegedly raped her during this stay at the ashram in Alwar.

The allegations come roughly a month after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted for raping two women devotees 15 years ago. police said Singh’s conviction motivated the woman to make the complaint.

“She was raped by the baba on the pretext of making her a judge. The girl came back to Bilaspur and narrated the whole incident to family members,” said additional superintendent of police, Bilaspur, Archana Jha.

Rajasthan police said the selfstyled godman had threatened the woman to remain silent. CONTINUED ON P 7

››SEE ALSO P6

THE WOMAN GATHERED COURAGE TO LODGE A POLICE COMPLAINT AFTER GURMEET RAM RAHIM’S CONVICTION