Cult leader who practiced obscure branch of Hinduism accused of rape

A cult leader who practiced an obscure branch of Hinduism is alleged to have raped four female devotees, court documents have revealed.

Rajinder Kalia, 65, who allegedly indoctrinated his devotees to believe he was ‘an incarnation of God and or the divine’, is accused of using his power and influence to groom worshippers at the Baba Balak Nath temple in Bell Green, Coventry.

The guru is also accused of instructing his followers to launch an ‘onslaught of harassment’ against any members of the temple who spoke out against him. 

The four women seeking damages from Kalia are no longer members of the Coventry temple. 

Rajinder Kalia, 65, is accused of using his power and influence to groom worshippers at the Baba Balak Nath temple in Bell Green, Coventry

The allegations surrounding the undetected cult were filed at the High Court last month by consultant solicitor at Peacock Law, Clare Kirby, The Times reports.  

They come after allegations of rape were dismissed by the authorities in 2017 following insufficient evidence and Kalia, a former draper and clerk from India, returned to the temple.  

It was upon his return that the cult leader is alleged to have told worshippers to ‘harass’ those who spoke out against him, with one follower claiming she was threatened with acid attacks.

The tyres of another follower were allegedly slashed after she spoke out against the guru and a man and a woman, who worked as unpaid servants to Kalia, claim they lost £1.1 million to the preacher. 

According to the court claim, Kalia is alleged to have claimed ‘to be divine’ and would tell his followers that the ‘outside world are evil and to be avoided’ during his sermons.

Worshippers would also pay Kalia, who lived in a gated home with a swimming pool in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, around £12,000 each.

Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor in the northwest, told The Times: ‘It’s shocking that this is alleged to have happened in plain sight. 

The cult leader allegedly indoctrinated his devotees to believe he was ‘an incarnation of God and or the divine’. (Stock image)

‘There is undue deference paid towards people who are supposedly the most religious. 

‘People should not be prevented from speaking up because of the perceived power and control these individuals have.’ 

Kalia will be defending the High Court claim against him, according to The Times. 

The claims come after West Midlands police attempted to charge Kalia with criminal offences relating to the alleged sexual abuse.