Meet Falahari Baba. Yet another godman facing rape charges
Swami Kaushlendra Prapannachari, also known as Falahari Maharaj/Baba, is yet another self-styled godman who is accused of rape. The 70-year-old godman was arrested by Alwar police on September 21, for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman, who is a law student from Chhattisgarh.
The woman in question is the daughter of the godman’s devotees, as they have been for over 15 years. According to her, she was assaulted by the baba at his lavish ashram in Alwar, Rajasthan on August 7. The baba, according to her statement, had informed her that he couldn't meet anyone during the lunar eclipse and had asked her to stay the night. The woman agreed to do so, and once in the ashram, the baba called her to his room at night and proceeded to assault her.
As per a report, the Alwar police said that a zero FIR on the incident was lodged by the family at Bilaspur police station in Chhattigarh, following which the case was handed over to Arvali Vihar Police Station in Alwar where the alleged crime had taken place.
Of course, in the face of sexual assault allegations, the fruity (Falahari means one who consumes only fruits) baba tried to play smart and had himself checked into a private hospital in Alwar, earlier last week, claiming high blood pressure.
"We have arrested the Baba under Section 376 (rape) and section 506 (criminal intimidation)," said Rahul Prakash, superintendent of police Alwar, speaking to IANS on phone, on September 23. Prakash added that the godman would be taken to a government hospital for a medical check-up and later if he is found fit and healthy he would be presented before a magistrate.
As it turns out, the medical examination conducted on him at a government hospital in Alwar, clearly indicates that his sugar and blood pressure are normal. Not just that, according to new reports from September 25, the baba has undergone a virility test. According to The Times of India senior police officers and the team of doctors that conducted the potency test, confirmed that the baba is virile as his potency test report was positive in the very first attempt of physical examination.
Earlier this month, former Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was found to be addicted to sex. Despite the fact that Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s counsel tried to claim that he is “impotent” and “not medically and physically fit to have sex with anyone”, during the trial, doctors who examined him in the Rohtak jail, concluded that the health issues Ram Rahim complained of, were the physical manifestation of some withdrawal symptoms he is suffering from.
"The baba is, in fact, a sex addict. He has no access to physical pleasures in the jail which is the cause for his restlessness. He can be treated. However, if the treatment is delayed, it can lead to a bigger problem," said a doctor who was part of the team that examined Ram Rahim in the jail.
Apart from the baba’s arrest, Alwar police have also seized laptops, CDs, other gadgets and CCTV footage from Falahari Maharaj's room and have sent it for forensic examination, said SHO of Aravali Vihar police station Shishram Meena Meena. The godman’s judicial remand will end on October 6.
But what else is known of this godman, who is famous for consuming just fruits? According to ToI, Falahari Baba’s original name is Gautam Mishra. The baba is literate and had studied up to class XII, following which; he had done a course from ITI - Naini situated in Allahabad. What is surprising, however, is that the baba is supposedly married and even has a daughter.
The report quotes a senior police officer saying, "[the baba] had left his home almost 30 years ago and came to Alwar in the 90s, when he started reciting Ramayana verses. Gradually, he made followers, including some influential people in the field of politics.”
That a godman would hold political clout, is fact in India. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rubbed shoulders with politicians, not only from the BJP but also Congress. Falahari Baba is no exception. A Jansatta report on the godman lists photos of him with several important BJP and RSS names, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and many more.