West Bengal News: A West Bengal woman on Thursday accused Padma Shri recipient Swami Pradiptanandaji, also known as Kartik Maharaj, of repeated rape over a decade. The woman also claimed that the people from his ashram forced the victim to go through abortion on the pretext of giving her a job. The victim lodged an FIR against the seer at Nabagram police station seeking a strong action against him. While reacting to the allegations, Trinamool Congress claimed that the alleged acts of the seer have defamed the monk community, adding that the accused is close to the BJP. However, Kartik Maharaj stated that the allegations are an effort to malign his image, adding that time will reveal the reality.
"I telephoned the Maharaj on June 12 and he told me to wait near minority office the next evening. Two persons took me on a four wheeler promising that they will take me to Maharaj and but going some distance they pushed me from the SUV, and warned me not try to contact him anymore," the complaint written in Bengali stated.
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"I want to unveil the real face of such a Maharaj so that he can't victimise any woman in future," she added. The police officials stated that a probe has been initiated into the matter. While responding to the allegations, Kartik Maharaj stated that the allegations are part of a conspiracy, adding that none of the other female disciples of the ashram have made such claims.
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"Time will reveal everything. This is a conspiracy against me to malign my name and fame. There are so many women employed in our ashram and many female disciples. Ask them; everyone will say we respect women like our mothers. You can even contact the complainant's father or family members," Maharaj stated. Apart from this, a political war of words has also begun between TMC and BJP in the state.