A self-declared godman, Sri Siddappaji Swamiji, was almost lynched by a mob in the central Karnataka district of Gadag on Saturday after he allegedly lured several women to fulfil his sexual desires.
The police saved the swami in the nick of time from a hundred-strong mob that had tied him to an electricity pole.
According to the police, Siddappaji had set up his "ashram" on the outskirts of Gadag, an ancient gold mining town two years ago.
He delivered religious discourses to the residents of the neighbourhood. He stayed with some of his assistants, who kept changing frequently.
Recently, a newly-married woman in the neighbourhood visited the 'ashram' to seek the blessings of the guru.
Over the next few days, he allegedly made sexual advances towards her. However, the innocent woman did not take them seriously.
Last week, the guru allegedly told her that he was a reincarnation of god and possessed powers to grant her a baby girl or boy depending on her preference.
"Two days ago, he invited the woman to the ashram under the pretext of blessing her and tried to seek sexual favours from her.
"The shocked woman ran out of the ashram and informed her family. However, as the guru had a large following, nobody took the woman's complaints seriously," said S. Patil, a local leader.
The victim then discussed the matter with other women in the neighbourhood and found out that the guru had misbehaved with many of them.
However, the women were scared of informing the local leaders about the incidents as they thought their complaints would not be taken seriously since the guru was extremely popular in the locality.
However, on Saturday morning, a few youths of the locality decided to confront the guru. When they questioned him about the alleged incidents of misbehaviour, he was evasive in his replies.
His assistants quietly left the ashram when the youths started questioning the guru. The guru then allegedly threatened to curse the neighbourhood and that's when things went out of control.
The mob ransacked his ashram and assaulted him. He was paraded on the road and half-stripped.
Later, the mob tied him to an electric pole and invited local women to slap him. A few passersby informed the police about the unfolding incident.
"He had lost consciousness because of constant beating by the time we reached the place. We had to convince the local residents and rescue him. We will probe the allegations against the guru," Karnataka Police said.
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