Falahari Maharaj -- rape allegations

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olice on Saturday arrested self-styled godman Kaushalendra Prapannacharya Falahari Maharaj in Alwar on charges of raping a 21-year-old law intern at his Ashram last month. The woman from Chhattisgarh's Bilsapur has accused the 60-year-old godman of sexually assaulting her when she went to his Ashram to meet him.

Falahari Maharaj, also known as the Baba, commands a strong following both in India and abroad. The victim's family has been among the Baba's followers for several years and claims to have given large donations to his Ashram.

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The arrest came three days after the filing of the case, originally registered in Bilaspur, were brought to Alwar by the investigating officer. The noose was tightening on Falahari Maharaj since the matter came to light, as the woman alleged that he had raped her on the Raksha Bandhan day on August 7.

The woman, pursuing a law course in Jaipur, has stated in her complaint that she had obtained an internship under a senior lawyer in Delhi on the Baba's recommendation. After she received her first stipend, her parents asked her to donate the money at Falahari Maharaj's Ashram as a token of respect.

When the woman went to the Ashram in Alwar on Raksha Bandhan last month, the Baba asked her to stay there in view of the lunar eclipse that day. During the night, he called her in his room and allegedly sexually assaulted her.

The woman said she mustered courage to report about the incident after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case. She lodged the case at her hometown Bilaspur on September 11, after which the investigating officer came to Alwar.

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Police had a tough time controlling a huge crowd of the Baba's followers who gathered outside the Ashram and raised slogans against the deployment of police force at the place.

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Rajasthan's 'Falahari Baba' Arrested On Charges Of Rape
Kaushlendra Prapannacharya Falahari Maharaj, 70, is dubbed "Falahari" because of his reported fruits-only diet. The Baba has been seen in photographs with top political leaders and celebrities.
All India | Reported by Harsha Kumari Singh | Updated: September 23, 2017 17:30 IST
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Rajasthan's 'Falahari Baba' Arrested On Charges Of Rape
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Falahari Baba had been visiting the woman's home for some time, investigations so far have revealed.
ALWAR:
HIGHLIGHTS
He is charged with raping 21-year-old woman at his ashram last month
Has a huge following among celebrities and politicians
Woman, daughter of devotees, was visiting the ashram to donate money
Rajasthan's famed 'Falahari Baba', charged with raping a 21-year-old woman at his ashram in Alwar, has been arrested this afternoon after three days of investigation. Facing allegations of sexual assault, the self-styled Godman had checked himself into a private hospital in Alwar earlier this week saying he was suffering from high blood pressure.

The police today got a medical examination conducted on him at a government hospital in Alwar where his sugar and blood pressure were found to be normal. He has now been sent to judicial custody for 15 days.

"In the medical tests conducted on Falahari Baba, his ECG, Sugar and Blood Pressure have been found to be normal," said Paras Jain, Additional Superintendent of Police, Alwar.

Kaushlendra Prapannacharya Falahari Maharaj, 70, is dubbed "Falahari" because of his reported fruits-only diet. The Baba has been seen in photographs with top political leaders and celebrities.

The woman, whose parents have been followers of Falahari Baba for years, has alleged that she was assaulted at his lavish ashram in Rajasthan's Alwar on August 7. She was allegedly told that the Baba couldn't meet anyone during an "eclipse" and asked to stay the night. The woman has told the police that the Baba called her at night to his room and assaulted her.

Warned against telling anyone, the woman broke her silence when another high profile guru, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was facing rape charges in court. Ram Rahim is now serving a 20-year jail term for raping two followers.

Falahari Baba had been visiting the woman's home for some time, investigations so far have revealed.

The woman, a law intern, had visited the ashram to donate some money. It was apparently on the baba's recommendation that she secured an internship under a senior lawyer in Delhi, for which she received a stipend of Rs. 3,000.

"Her family told her to give it to the Baba. When she went to meet him he told her to wait and then raped and threatened her. The parents came to us after the woman told them everything and we registered a case," said Archana Jha, a police officer in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur.

The 'Godman' has devotees in India as well as abroad, the police say.

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The police today got a medical examination conducted on him at a government hospital in Alwar where his sugar and blood pressure were found to be normal. He has now been sent to judicial custody for 15 days.

"In the medical tests conducted on Falahari Baba, his ECG, Sugar and Blood Pressure have been found to be normal," said Paras Jain, Additional Superintendent of Police, Alwar.

Kaushlendra Prapannacharya Falahari Maharaj, 70, is dubbed "Falahari" because of his reported fruits-only diet. The Baba has been seen in photographs with top political leaders and celebrities.