Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, a popular Indian guru and head of the Dera Sacha Sauda spiritual group, has allegedly tricked hundreds of his followers into being castrated.
According to the country’s Central Investigation Bureau, Ram Rahim manipulated about 400 of his followers into taking part in the mass castrations by convincing them it was the only way to personally connect with God, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The only victim to have come forward so far is Hans Raj Chauhan, who says the castrations began around 2000 in the state of Haryana in northern India. He said the castrations took place in a hospital run by the Dera organization, often described as a cult.
“They were told that only those who get castrated will be able to meet God,” said Chauhan’s lawyer, Navkiran Singh, according to the Morning Herald.
Ram Rahim has headed Dera Sacha Sauda, which boasts a following of about 50 million people, for more than two decades. In addition to his religious duties, he also dabbles in music and film, earning the moniker of “the guru in bling” for his gaudy, glittering outfits and extravagant lifestyle.
Ram Rahim’s latest endeavour is a feature-length film released in January, MSG: The Messenger of God, which depicts the guru as a god-like action hero who can walk on air and split logs with his bare hands. The film has drawn huge audiences, though it might struggle now that the castration allegations against the film’s star have become national headlines.
The case against Ram Rahim is over allegedly causing grievous bodily harm, though it is not his first brush with the law. He has previously been investigated for two murders, rape and stockpiling illegal weapons at his ashram.