'Not surprisingly, the call for lighting diyas, candles and other sources of illumination to demonstrate a nation's resolve to fight coronavirus has elicited astrological, numerological and even medical explanations,' notes Amulya Ganguli.
'Delhi's river has once more been thrown under the bus, by a happy godman backed by a godman-happy government,' says Mitali Saran.
A key accused and associate of controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on Wednesday surrendered before a court in Jodhpur.
Rape accused and self-proclaimed 'godman' Asaram Bapu has been arrested and booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, for allegedly sexually abusing a minor
Many Indians will be thrilled to see the back of 2013, for it has largely been a rotten year, save for some. This year has been rocked by shockers after shockers -- the devastation in Uttarakhand which killed thousands, the Mumbai gang rape, Tarun Tejpal being accused of rape, godman Asaram and son being arrested for rape, the Afzal Guru execution and the SC verdict on gay sex, -- the list is seemingly endless.
Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai on Wednesday said the girl, who had levelled charges of sexual abuse against his father, as "mentally unstable".
Asaram Bapu had some powerful backers within the Congress... Why Kumari Selja's phone hasn't stopped ringing... Gossip from the Dilli Durbar
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was on Sunday quizzed by police in Jodhpur after being flown from Indore where he was arrested after midnight amid high drama for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram.
Hot on the trail of Asaram Bapu, the Jodhpur Police has said that the self-styled godman, who is currently at Indore ashram, is medically fit for interrogation and is set to question him soon in connection with the sexual assault case.
Netflix has unveiled a line-up of 15 original series as well as returning seasons of popular shows.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has run into fresh trouble after a 16-year-old girl, who had been staying in a hostel operated by his trust in Jodhpur accused him of sexual assault.
One person was killed and several others, including police personnel, were injured when a mob went on rampage, torching several vehicles during a protest over setting up of an ashram at Karontha village near Rohtak on Sunday.
In a move that has ruffled many feathers, the Mahanirvani Akhara of 'naga' sadhus has conferred the honorific title of 'Mahamandaleshwar' on controversial self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda.
The massive operation to locate and arrest controversial 'godman' Rampal cost the exchequer over Rs 26 crore, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was told on Friday.
On October 18, the tax department had said searches had led to detection of undisclosed income of more than Rs 500 crore in addition to Rs 93 crore worth seizures, including gold jewellery and diamonds. A revised appraisal of such seizures now pegs its value at Rs 106 crore which includes cash (Rs 45 crore), gold jewellery and diamonds (Rs 41 crore) and foreign currency Rs 20 crore.
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said, "A potency test was conducted on him, which confirmed that he was strong enough to commit the crime of sexual assault and rape on the 16-year-old girl."
As many as 23 followers of Asaram Bapu were arrested for allegedly assaulting mediapersons and damaging their equipment, as the controversial self-styled godman drew flak from media over wastage of water at a pre-Holi function organised by him in drought-hit Maharashtra.
A group of followers of Asaram Bapu on Monday allegedly assaulted mediapersons and damaged their equipment, as the controversial self-styled godman drew flak over wastage of water at a pre-Holi function organised by him in drought-hit Maharashtra.
The Jodhpur police on Wednesday charged self-styled godman Asaram Bapu with wrongful confinement and rape of a 16-year-old girl, more than two months after he was arrested in the sexual assault case.
The losses caused to property due to violence and arson by the followers of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will be recovered from Dera Sacha Sauda, the Punjab and Haryana high court ruled on Fridayy, according to a senior government lawyer.
If convicted, Asaram faces maximum sentence of 10 years.
Efforts to arrest self-styled 'godman' Rampal, who is holed up in his ashram in Barwala, Haryana will continue, police said on Wednesday morning after suspending the operation overnight following clashes between his supporters and security personnel that left over 200 people injured.
Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor, will face arrest if he fails to appear before the Jodhpur police on Friday, a top police officer has said.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu sought more time from Jodhpur police for appearing before it in connection with sexual assault charges against him even as he dismissed the allegations as being "baseless".
The two-member team, which reached his ashram on Khandwa road on the outskirts of the city at 0800 hour, served the summons to Asaram at around 2 pm after being told by ashram functionaries that he was meditating and cannot be disturbed.
Bharatiya Janata Party Vice President Uma Bharti on Thursday said that the rape charge levelled by a teenage girl against Asaram Bapu could be "politically motivated" as he had been critical of top Congress leadership.
Controversial self-styled godman Nityananda on Monday faced a search warrant for his arrest after the government decided to act against him over his activities including alleged sexual exploitation of his disciples. Nityananda, who is already facing criminal cases including rape on complaints from some former disciples last year, is reportedly absconding from his ashram at Bidadi in Ramanagara district near Bangalore.
The younger son of local Bahujan Samaj Party leader Deepak Bhardwaj has been questioned by police to ascertain whether he allegedly gave the contract to kill his father, apparently angry over his relationship with a woman.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has run into fresh trouble with the Serious Fraud Investigating Office seeking his prosecution in a Rs 700 crore land grab case in Madhya Pradesh.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has ran into fresh trouble with the Serious Fraud Investigating Office seeking his prosecution in a Rs 700 crore land grab case in Madhya Pradesh.
Self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda has been sacked by the senior pontiff as his successor of a 1500-year-old Saivaite Mutt in Madurai. Nityananda faces charges of rape and sexual harassment by some of his former devotees.
In fresh trouble for controversial godman Nithyananda, police have lodged criminal cases against him and his followers for allegedly assaulting a mediaperson during a press conference at his ashram.
Amid the controversy over appointment of self-styled godman Nityananda as head of the Madurai Adheenam, the Madras high court on dismised a PIL seeking a direction to the government to take over the ancient Saivite Mutt.
Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswati on Wednesday voiced his opposition to self-styled godman Nityananda's appointment as the head of the Madurai Adheenam.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is in the eye of a storm over his remarks on the Delhi gang rape victim, on Tuesday said he was quoted out of context. He also announced a reward of 50 lakh to anyone who could prove that he blamed the victim for the horrific crime.
The police on Friday informed the Madras high court bench they had registered a case against controversial self styled godman Nithyananda and two others for allegedly providing devotees holy water mixed with drugs at the Adheenam in Madurai.
Controversial self-styled godman Nityananda was granted bail by the district executive magistrate on Friday, a day after he was re-arrested on charges of disturbing peace.
The bureaucracy in Haryana blamed the government for inexperience and criminal negligence.
Facing arrest, controversial self-styled godman Nithyananda on Tuesday moved the Karnataka high court seeking quashing of a first information report filed in connection with last week's violent incidents in his ashram near in Bengaluru.
Narendra Modi speaking about Lokayukta is like Asaram "talking about virginity", Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Monday, hitting back at the Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate.
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