London:

An Indian-origin “guru”, who types himself as the pinnacle priest of a non secular society in England, is being sued for thousands and thousands of kilos within the Excessive Court docket in London this week over sexual assault allegations introduced by girls who have been his former “disciples”.

Rajinder Kalia, 68, is the defendant in an ongoing trial accused of utilizing his sermons and teachings, in addition to the purported efficiency of “miracles”, to unduly affect followers’ actions. The claimants within the case, all of Indian origin, had gained a earlier authorized combat two years in the past after a choose allowed the case to proceed to trial.

“There are triable points to be decided on this case, with lots of the factual points being intertwined and topic to the claimants’ instances as to the coercive management that the defendant (Kalia) exercised over them,” Choose Deputy Grasp Richard Grimshaw concluded in June 2022.

The trial opened final week on the Royal Courts of Justice earlier than Justice Martin Spencer and is anticipated to conclude subsequent week, with a judgment anticipated within the coming months.

“I’m horrified by the claims being made in opposition to me. They’re demonstrably false, which makes all of them the extra puzzling,” Kalia stated in a press release.

“Whereas I’ve at all times believed that everybody must be given a voice, this proper should solely be used pretty and responsibly. So, it’s with nice unhappiness that I sense an elaborate conspiracy to wreck me inside my neighborhood…The reality will quickly be out. Till then, I want to thank all those that have helped maintain me and my household at this difficult time,” he stated.

The courtroom has been informed how Punjab-born Kalia broke his leg “badly” in a bike accident in his late teenagers and was informed by medical professionals that he wouldn’t stroll once more. Nonetheless, after a go to to Deotsidh, Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh – the origins of Baba Balak Nath – he discovered he was capable of stroll once more with out crutches. He believes that this was a miracle and enhanced his Hindu religion, notably in Baba Balak Nath.

He moved to the UK in January 1977 and commenced preaching in 1983 from his residence earlier than buying some land in Coventry and in 1986 established a “temple” in celebration of Baba Balak Nath. The Sidh Baba Balak Nath Ji Society of Coventry England is registered with the nation’s Charity Fee and is run by trustees and volunteers.

Based on the courtroom paperwork for the trial, the temple serves meals thrice every week and helps the aged in the neighborhood with Kalia as its head priest, or ‘guru’, referring to himself as a servant of God “Jinder Das”.

The feminine claimants within the trial allege “severe sexual assaults” passed off frequently over a few years within the “priest’s room” on the temple, together with a declare of consensual sexual relationship.

Kalia denies the allegations and his authorized crew will problem them on a number of grounds because the case progresses via the prolonged trial. 

(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)