Godman Anand Giri Arrested In Australia In Sexual Assault Cases

Spiritual Guru Anand Giri has been arrested from a house at Oxley Park suburb of Sydney, Australia on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting two women in the city. The police took him to the Riverstone Police Station of Sydney and he was made to appear before Paramatta Court in saffron (orange) robes. Giri has now been charged with two counts of assaulting the two women.

“He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Sunday 5 May 2019), he was remanded in custody, to reappear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 26 June 2019," police said, SBS reported. They also said that both the complainants knew Giri.

The women had on different occasions in 2016 and 2018 had called Giri to attend prayer meetings when the women claim that he behaved inappropriately with them. The first woman had called him to pray on New Year at her residence in Rooty Hill of Sydney West in 2016 which is when he allegedly assaulted her in her bedroom, according to SBS. Then in 2018, a 34-year-old woman had called him for a night-long prayer meet at her house. They were praying in the house’s lounge area when Giri made indecent advances towards her.

Giri, a priest at the Bade Hanuman temple in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh, had gone on a six-week long tour of Australia and was ready to fly back to India on May 5 when he was apprehended by the police.

Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad president Narendra Giri confirmed that he has been arrested in Sydney in sexual assault cases and said that both the complainants filed a plea with the Australian Police against Giri for allegedly touching them without consent. Both of them are Indian and belong to the southern part of the country who visited the Kumbh Mela held earlier this year. Giri claims that they had an argument with Anand Giri after which they filed complaints against him.

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“Our people in Australia are in contact with authorities and a bail application has again been filed, the hearing on which has been fixed for Wednesday. We will also seek the help of the Indian embassy in Australia and the ministry of foreign affairs if necessary,” Narendra Giri said, HT reported.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Sunday 5 May 2019), he was remanded in custody, to reappear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 26 June 2019

Giri’s website claims that he is also a Yoga teacher apart from being the self-proclaimed spiritual guru.  According to the website, he is someone who is “committed to serving the society & inspiring people through his work & wisdom”.

“As a friend, philosopher & guide he has led his followers through Vedic teachings & helped them find their purpose & identity,” reads the website. Over the past few months, he has posted several pictures with ministers including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister VK Singh on his social media suggesting his political affinity and affiliation.

Picture credit- Zee News

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