Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is not the first self-styled godman found breaking the law. Other "gurus" in India have been accused of rape, murder, cheating, and a variety of other crimes. Here are some religious and spiritual leaders who were arrested:
Sant Rampal
Just a day before Gurmeet Singh was convicted of rape, a court in Haryana deferred its verdict on criminal charges of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, etc against Sant Rampal. The founder of Satlok Ashram was arrested in 2014.
Update: On 29 August, Sant Rampal was acquitted in two of the several criminal cases against him related to assault, obstructing a public servant, rioting and unlawful assembly, among others.
Asaram Bapu
The religious leader was arrested in September 2013 under allegations of rape, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation. The 76-year-old has remained in prison since then.
Swami Nithyananda
The 40-year-old spiritual leader was arrested in 2010 after allegations of rape, criminal intimidation and cheating were made against him. Fresh charges of rape were levelled against him in 2012, leading to a second arrest.
Swami Bhimanand
Shreemurath Dwivedi, known as Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale, was arrested in 2010 for running a 500-crore sex racket at his ashram.
Nirmal Baba
Spiritual leader Nirmal Baba was accused of evading ₹3.5-crore service tax in 2014.
Swami Vikasanand
This swami from Jabalpur was arrested in 2006 for sexually abusing minor girls and making pornographic films. Around 60 such films were found in his possession at the time of arrest. He was subsequently jailed.
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