Fake Godman Acharya Ashokananda Maharaj arrested

New Delhi: A godman who fled duping people of lakhs of rupees in Delhi was arrested from his native village Bisrakh, Greater Noida, on Wednesday. The godman Acharya Ashokananda Maharaj was wanted in a cheating case of Sharakarpur in East Delhi where an FIR was registered against him and his two female associates Rajni Kashyap and Babita Jain in November 2018 under sections of cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

One of the complainants alleged that accused allured people, especially housewives, to invest their money in various schemes in his company Mohan Inframart Pvt Ltd. When the Delhi police started the investigation several other women turned up as victims.

"The modus operandi was that he organised religious programmes to convince the people to join the schemes and to invest their money in short term schemes. For example, he asked victims to invest Rs. 1000 per month for 10 months and in return he would pay Rs 15,000 after 10 months. He also encouraged members to join more members to get additional benefits," said DCP east Jasmeet Singh. The godman, who had an active presence on social media, lured women from various walks of life pretending to be a Yog guru and assure them of solving their problems. He also posted his photographs of the social and religious gathering that he organised at Bisrakh. During the course of investigation notices under section 41A CrPC & 91 CrPC also served to the accused but he never turned up to join the investigation and approached the Session Court and High Court for seeking anticipatory bail, which was dismissed.

"Total 15 complaints have been received till date. The total cheated amount is nearly Rs. 70 lakhs," DCP East Jasmeet singh said.