Self-styled godman Vinod Kashyap, accused of subjecting several of his devotees to sexual assault at his ashram in a Dwarka village and blackmailing them into remaining silent, has been arrested after two women filed complaints against him.
DCP, Dwarka, Harsha M Vardhan confirmed Kashyap’s arrest.
Police sources said three-four devotees, mainly from Delhi and Loni, also called Delhi Police and made similar allegations against Kashyap, 39.
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His ‘darbar’, according to police sources, operates from a temporary set-up with Kashyap being mainly involved in leading religious processions and events in the village. He often also delivers speeches and claims to “cure” issues ranging from infertility to familial and marital disputes.
As per police sources, two women approached Dwarka district police with written complaints against Kashyap Monday, accusing him of luring them with promises of solving all their problems only to later rape them.
“He also threatened them. The complainants also alleged he extorted them. They had to sell their jewellery and give him money because he told them he had the power to destroy their lives and that he would tell their spouses and families about the sexual relations,” said a police officer.
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A case of rape and criminal intimidation was lodged, following which police sent a team, led by SI Rashmi Dhariwal and SI Durgesh, under directions of SHO Sanjeev Pahwa, to apprehend Kashyap. The accused, police said, got wind of the complaints and fled his house the same day. Several raids then took place around the village, leading to his arrest early Tuesday.
Police said Kashyap was produced before court and sent to three days’ police remand; more raids are being conducted to arrest his associates.
During questioning, Kashyap said he has a YouTube channel with more than 900 videos and 34.5K subscribers.
In most of the videos, Kashyap is seen singing bhajans at different events across Dwarka. His YouTube channel proclaims, “I am neither a religious guru nor a preacher. I am only a disciple and devotee… who wants to help depressed people by providing them (food, money, clothes, etc.)…If you want to get a solution to your problems or want to ask us something, then you must go to… the Darbar…”
DCP, Dwarka, Harsha M Vardhan confirmed Kashyap’s arrest. (Representational Image) 
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