Indian-Origin Guru Rajinder Kalia To Face Trial Over Allegations of Sexual Assault

An Indian-origin ‘guru’ Rajinder Kalia, 65, failed in his attempt to strike out the sexual assault and psychological domination case against him in the High Court of London. Kalia was the guru of a registered charity society in Coventry since 1986.

Rajinder Kalia had been the guru of the Baba Balak Nath Temple in Coventry since 1986. The temple was a registered charity society. He reportedly claimed to be divine and have a direct link with God and the ability to speak with God, or manifestations of God.

Kalia was accused of sexual assaulting devotees and grooming his followers into believing he is “an incarnation of God and or the divine”.

Four women made allegations of sexual assault. Seven claimants in the court case alleged that Kalia used sermons and teaching and the supposed performance of ‘miracles’ to influence their actions.

Judge Deputy Master Richard Grimshaw said in his judgement that “I accept that this is a difficult case to plead given the fact that there are seven claimants and their claims are different and multifaceted.”

Regarding the allegations of sexual assault, the judgement states “There are serious allegations of sexual assault made in this case by four women, three of whom are only connected by their attendance at the temple and/or being part of that faith community and where two of them describe sexual acts in a similar way.”

Judge Grimshaw added that “there is no real prospect that those claimants will succeed in their claims for such sexual assaults.”

The former devotees turned claimants are asking for millions of pounds in damages over the allegations of sexual assault and psychological domination.

Rajinder Kalia denied all allegations and described the claims as “baseless” and said it was “a thinly veiled attempt to extract money from him”. The defence called the claims of sexual and physical abuse was called “fantastical and completely without foundation”.

Kalia had attempted to strike out the case on the basis that the particulars of the claim were “vague, unwieldy and fail to identify the issues which the claimants wish to try”. The judge concluded that it would be “premature and unjust” to order a strike out of the case at this stage. The case will proceed to a civil hearing.

Suggested Reading: Filth, Dirt And Soft Porn: How A Sexual Assault Survivor's Account Was Judged In Court