Asian faith leader accused of abuse
COVENTRY TEMPLE FOLLOWERS ALLEGE THREATS AND FINANCIAL LOSSES AS COURT ACTION LAUNCHED
A “CULT” leader in Coventry who claimed to be “God on Earth” has been accused of raping four devotees.
Rajinder Kalia has allegedly been using Baba Balak Nath, an obscure branch of Hinduism for his activities, and has been accused of putting “undue influence” on young girls for nearly three decades, The Times reported on Monday (19).
At the temple in Bell Green, Coventry, Kalia, 65, is believed by his followers to be a “healer and miracle worker”.
It is alleged that he groomed worshippers as young as four. One accuser told the newspaper she was asked to bow at Kalia’s feet as a child and he would hug and kiss her in “a highly inappropriate fashion.”.
Another alleged that Kalia would use “spiritual justification” to force her into sex when she was in her 20s.
The claims, in a multimillion-pound civil case filed at the high court last month, come after West Midlands police attempted to charge him with criminal offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse.
Prosecutors said there was a “clear and compelling public interest” in pursuing the rape allegations, but dropped the claims in 2017 after finding insufficient evidence.
They also admitted they had “little understanding of the culture” of the temple.
Kalia returned to the temple, where it is claimed he instructed followers to launch an onslaught including threats of violence, vandalism and defamation against those who spoke out.
One follower said her car tyres were slashed after she revealed the abuse, while another claimed she was threatened with an acid attack.
People were allegedly giving Kalia money to show their devotion to him. Two more followers, who worked as unpaid servants to Kalia, allege they lost £1.1 million to the cult leader due to his influence over them. Another victim is seeking £520,000 over similar claims, the newspaper said.
Kalia is said to live in a gated home with a swimming pool in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Rugy, Warwickshire.
Videos of the preacher and his followers show them kissing and touching his feet as he sat on a makeshift ‘throne’. Many of his worshippers were vulnerable women, according to reports.
Former crown court prosecutor Nazir Afzal was quoted as saying it was “shocking” that the crimes were alleged to have happened in plain sight.
“There is undue deference paid towards people who are supposedly the most religious,” he said. “People should not be prevented from speaking up because of the perceived power and control these individuals have.”
The high court claim, brought by Clare Kirby, a consultant solicitor at Peacock Law, alleges that sexual abuse amounted to “trespass to the person” and that Kalia’s “undue influence” on followers saw them hand over hundreds of thousands in cash.
He is accused of rape on the basis that “free will was overborne by the undue influence that he had over each of them, so that they could not formulate informed consent to such acts in law”.
Kalia, through his solicitors, declined to comment. However, he said he will be defending the high court claim.