Rajasthan-based Falahari baba arrested for law student''s ''rape''

Bilaspur, September 23

After three days of investigation, the Rajasthan Police on Saturday arrested 70-year-old self-styled godman Kaushalendra Prapannacharya 'Falahari' Maharaj in Alwar for the alleged rape of a 21-year-old woman.

He said that Falahari Baba would be taken to a government hospital for a medical check and later if he is found fit and healthy he would be presented before a magistrate.

As per the complaint, the parents of the woman, who is studying law in Jaipur, are followers of Falahari Maharaj for the past several years.

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The incident had allegedly taken place at Madhusudan ashram of the godman in Alwar, Rajasthan, on August 7 this year. On the baba's recommendation, she did an internship under a senior lawyer in New Delhi for which she received a stipend of Rs 3,000. Her parents asked her to donate the stipend amount to the baba's ashram in Alwar.

Following her parents' advice, she went to the ashram on Raksha Bandhan last month. Citing occurrence of 'grahan' (eclipse) that day, the self-proclaimed religious guru advised her to stay in the ashram which she agreed to.

During the night, the baba called the woman in his room and allegedly sexually assaulted her, she had alleged.

The baba asked her not to tell anyone about the incident and threatened to harm her if she did so, she said.

When the survivor came home here this month, she narrated the ordeal to her parents following which a rape complaint was lodged with the women cell.

A case was registered against the accused under IPC Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation), the police officer said.

The survivor's statement was recorded before a magistrate here and the case diary sent to the Alwar Police for further action, following which he was arrested today.  —PTI/ANI inputs