Falahari Baba, also known as Falahari Maharaj (born as Gautam Mishra[1]), is a self-styled godman,[2][3] who has been convicted for raping a 21 year-old woman and sentenced to life imprisonment.[4] He is listed in the second list of "fake spiritual leaders" released by Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex body of Hindu sadhus.[5]
Life
His full name is Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari Falahari Maharaj. He studied up to class XII and also holds an ITI certificate course from Allahabad. He left his home and came to Alwar, Rajasthan in the 1990s.[6] Falahari is married and has a daughter.[1]
He dubbed "Falahari" (meaning fruit eater) because, he survived by only eating fruits, reportedly.[1] He is reported to be 60 years old by The Times of India[7] and 70 years old by The Free Press Journal,[8] as of September 2017. He is associated with Ramanuja sampradaya.
He has been photographed with top political leaders and celebrities including prime minister Narendra Modi, home minister Rajnath Singh, the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia.[9]
He owns an Ashram in Alwar, called Venkatesh Divya Balaji Dham Ashram and also run Goshala in Alwar. In July, 2017, he had also attended to the Saint Sangam of BJP organized in Jaipur.[10]
Rape case and conviction
In September 2017, an FIR was lodged by the victim against Baba at Mahila police station of Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. He was arrested on September 23, 2017, in Alwar.[7] International Business Times reported, the victim said in the complaint that following the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, she got courage and decided to report the matter to the police.[11]
He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Additional District court of Alwar on September 27, 2018.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Test confirms Falahari Baba is virile, police to file chargesheet in rape case. The Times of India(September 25, 2017).
- ↑ 'Didn't believe stories against Baba'. The Hindu(September 26, 2017).
- ↑ India's Unholy Godmen(July 2018).
- ↑ Self-styled guru 'Falahari Baba' sentenced to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting 21-year-old(September 26, 2018).
- ↑ All India Akhada Parishad Releases Fourth List of Fake Babas(April 2, 2018).
- ↑ Falahari Baba charged with rape, intimidation. The Times of India(December 16, 2017).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Final arguments in Falahari Baba case to begin from September 15. The Times of India(September 18, 2018).
- ↑ Rajasthan: 70-year-old godman Falahari Baba charged for rape; admitted to hospital(September 21, 2017).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Life-term for rape accused Falahari baba whose photos with PM Modi, others went viral(September 27, 2018).
- ↑ कौन हैं फलाहारी बाबा, जिन पर है रेप का आरोप. BBC News.
- ↑ Ram Rahim effect: Law student breaks silence, accuses Falahari Baba of rape. International Business Times(September 21, 2017).