Falahari Maharaj , 70, a popular ‘spiritual’ guru, has been arrested in India for the alleged rape of a 21-year-old woman.
According to the BBC, Maharaj is accused of raping the law student at his ashram in Alwar, a village in Rajasthan state.
The self-styled “godman” faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
Last month controversial Indian guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, above, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two female followers.
The alleged victim, who is studying law in Jaipur, filed a complaint on September 11. She claimed the attack had taken place on 7 August.
She reportedly visited Maharaj’s ashram in Alwar to donate money at her parents’ request.
She was, she says, raped after she agreed to stay overnight at the property.
Maharaj, she said warned her against reporting the attack.
However, she added, she gained the courage to approach the police after the conviction of Ram Rahim Singh, who was found guilty of raping two followers between 1999 and 2002 in northern Haryana state.
The sentencing of Ram Rahim Singh led to violent protests in north India and resulted in the deaths of 38 people and more than 2,000 arrests.
Maharaj has a strong following both in India and abroad, including the alleged victim’s family, who reportedly donated money to his ashram on several occasions in recent years.
The Deccan Herald reported that the guru was in hospital when he was arrested. Video shows him being removed from the hospital on a stretcher.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn