The controversy over Sant Rampal and his army of followers taking the law into their hands has once again thrown the spotlight on the clout that India's godmen possess.
Rediff.com looks at other sensational murder mysteries that left India shell-shocked.
Though the list of superstitious beliefs is long, often dissolving distinctions of class, caste, religion and education, Karnataka's anti-superstition bill is seen as a big step ahead.
The babas' vote banks and the politicians' greed for en bloc votes, is the curse of Punjab and Haryana.
