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Indian border officials on lookout for fugitive cosmic guru
NEW DELHI, Dec 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Indian border officials and
embassies have issued an alert for a fugitive guru accused of rape, the
government said, days after the holy man announced the creation of his own
“cosmic” country.
Swami Nithyananda — one of many self-styled Indian “godmen” with
thousands of followers and a chequered past — is wanted by police for
alleged rape, sexual abuse, and abduction of children.
Earlier this week, he announced online that he has created his own new
country — reportedly off Ecuador’s coast — complete with cabinet, golden
passports, and even a department of homeland security.
Asked about the guru’s whereabouts on Friday, the foreign ministry said
Nithyananda’s passport had been cancelled and that India had issued an alert
for “all our missions and posts”.
Local governments had also been put on alert, spokesman Raveesh Kumar
told reporters in New Delhi, adding: “We have never said he’s in Ecuador.”
Confusion reigns about the location of the new country, known as
Kailaasa, which the 41-year-old claimed was the “biggest Hindu nation without
boundaries”.
Indian media reports initially said it was off the Ecuadorean coast, but
in a rambling YouTube video the holy man said it exists “in the cosmos”.
The Kailaasa website details different government departments and
agencies in his make-believe state, offering “free food” and promising a
“strong diplomatic network” to work with other countries.
Previously, Nithyananda has claimed he would make cows speak Sanskrit
and Tamil and that he succeeded in delaying sunset by 40 minutes.
The website says he is “regarded & worshipped as the Living Avatar
(incarnation) of super-consciousness by millions”.
Though not convicted, he first made headlines in 2010 after he was
arrested and jailed for 53 days over a sex scandal involving an actress.
Last month, a case was registered against him in the western Indian
state of Gujarat on charges of wrongful confinement of children.
Nithyananda is one of several Indian gurus to face charges ranging from
murders, sexual assaults, rapes and financial fraud in recent years.
In 2017, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, another self-styled godman, was
arrested and charged over raping two of his female disciples.
His arrest led to widespread rioting and clashes in northern Haryana
state that killed at least three dozen people.
BSS/AFP/RY/1625 hrs