After one of his disciples filed a sexual harassment case against 57-year-old self-proclaimed yoga guru, four other women complained of similar abuse they experienced at his hands
Accused Shivram Raut
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After being harassed by a self-proclaimed yoga guru for almost six months, a woman finally confided the matter to her husband and got the accused arrested. After a case was registered at the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai (RAK) Marg police station, the cops nabbed accused Shivram Raut, 57, and produced him in a court. He was later released on bail. However, after the complainant approached the cops regarding the matter, four other women, who were Raut's students, complained of similar harassment.
Raut is the founder of a non-profit organisation Shivom Teerth Yoga Academy, which conducts yoga classes in Sewri and Mahim. The complainant used to attend his classes held at the Prabodhankar Thakre Municipal School in Sewri, on Sunday evenings.
It all started during Diwali
According to police, in November last year, the victim had invited him to her house for Diwali celebrations. "Initially Raut refused to visit her place, but later he agreed when her husband insisted," said an officer from RAK police station. "While teaching her yoga at her house, Raut touched her inappropriately. When she objected to it, he claimed that it happened by mistake. However, after that she was harassed a number of times. Finally, in April this year, she told her husband about it," added the officer.
He further said, "A complaint was registered at the RAK police station on July 5. Thereafter, we took a detailed statement of the complainant and also approached four other women regarding the matter. They also complained of similar harassment."
Guruji secures bail
Speaking to mid-day, Bhagwat Bansod, senior inspector of RAK police station, said, "We registered a case under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC and arrested the accused. He was produced in the Bhoiwada holiday court on Sunday. Later, he was released on bail for cooperating with the investigation."
When contacted, Kashinath Hande, member of Shivom Teerth Yoga Academy, said, "Guruji has secured bail. The entire matter will come to light within a few days." However, he refused to comment anything on the allegations leveled against Raut.
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