1) Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Ram Rahim has been accused of rape, murder and ordering forced male castrations. In 2002, a a former Dera sadhvi (female disciple) wrote a letter accusing Ram Rahim of rape and addressed it to the respective Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana, and to then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) took cognisance of the letter and sought a report from the District and Sessions Judge of Sirsa, following which, Judge M.S. Sular conducted an inquiry and submitted a report recommending a probe by a central agency. On August 25, 2017, a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula, Haryana, completed proceedings in the rape case and convicted Ram Rahim. Following the conviction, 38 people were killed and another 100 injured in violent protests in parts of India, with reports of widespread vandalism. On August 28, 2017, the CBI court sentenced him to a total of 20 years in jail.
2) Rampal Maharaj
In 2006, Rampal criticised Hindu sect Arya Samaj. A case was registered against him in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. During 2010-14, he skipped court hearings 42 times. He was given an ‘exemption from appearance’ by the court to maintain the law and order situation, which threatened to get out of hand due to the possibility of his followers flocking into the court. But in 2014, the court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him. This resulted in violent clashes between his followers and those of Arya Samaj, with an Arya Samaj follower being killed. Rampal was charged with murder and arrested. He was arrested on November 19, 2014, along with 492 of his followers, on charges including sedition, murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy, hoarding illegal weapons and aiding and abetting suicides. On August 29, 2017, Rampal was found not guilty of illegally confining thousands of followers and obstructing police officials in 2014 when they stormed his 12-acre ashram.
3) Radhe Maa
Radhe Maa is a controversial, self-proclaimed spiritual leader based in Borivali suburb, Mumbai, Maharashtra. In September, 2017, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against her. Prompted by recent controversies surrounding self-styled gurus, Radhe Maa was listed among 14 “fake spiritual leaders” by Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the apex body of Hindu sadhus (saints).
4) Swami Nithyananda
Nithyananda claims to possess paranormal powers of levitation. In 2010, as many as five women accused Swami Nithyananda of abusing them at his ashram. In the same year, he was in jail for 53 days after a sex video scandal. He has been under investigation since television stations aired video footage purportedly showing him fondling two unidentified women in bed.
