Rajinder Kalia, 68, is accused of exploiting four women and girls, some as young as four, while running a temple in Coventry, UK.
He allegedly manipulated the teachings of Baba Balak Nath, a lesser-known branch of Hinduism, for his own benefit and is now being sued by four former disciples. They claim Kalia used “undue influence” to grope and r*pe them.
The High Court heard that Kalia started his sermons in the UK after surviving a motorbike crash in his youth in India.
He reportedly “miraculously” walked again following a visit to Himachal Pradesh, a region linked with the Hindu god Baba Balak Nath. After establishing his own temple in 1986, he allegedly indoctrinated his followers to believe he was “an incarnation of God or the divine.”
The lawyer, Mark Jones, representing the seven claimants, said: “This is an unusual case, where the claimants allege to have been wholly subject to the charismatic and forceful personality of Mr Kalia over decades. He portrayed himself as an incarnation of God through the purported performance of miracles. The claimants’ ability freely to consent to his demands for financial and sexual benefits was overridden. They were incapable of resisting.”
A woman reportedly broke down in court as she recounted being raped at least 1,320 times over 22 years after joining the church as a single mother. She claimed Kalia told her his “abhorrent” sexual acts were “akin to relations enjoyed by the Hindu deity Krishna.”
Another alleged victim stated Kalia began abusing her at 13 and took her virginity at 21 in a hotel he forced her to book. She testified that she was threatened with acid after reporting him to the police and was later falsely arrested for child abuse.
A third woman claimed she was groped from age 13 and also had her virginity taken by Kalia, while a fourth alleged she was inappropriately kissed from age four.
Additionally, some victims claimed they were manipulated into sending Kalia money, including one who paid £5,000 to “cure her dog’s cancer.”
Kalia, who resides in a £1.1 million mansion with his wife, denies all the allegations.
