PUNE: Pune police have arrested a self-styled godman who allegedly projected himself as someone with supernatural powers, claiming he could read people’s minds and foresee the future.Probe revealed Radhamohan Mishra used this image to manipulate followers and allegedly exploit a woman for over 15 years.Mishra and seven of his associates, including six women, were arrested after a complaint was filed on June 16, police said.The accused have been booked for alleged sexual assault, physical torture, financial exploitation and offences under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.According to police, Mishra allegedly created an atmosphere of fear and dependence among followers by presenting himself as someone with divine abilities.He allegedly made people write detailed “reports” about their thoughts and personal lives, which were later used to influence and control them.The police said the complainant’s family had been associated with Mishra for more than two decades.Under the banner of a “modern gurukul”, he allegedly convinced families to allow their children to stay at his ashram in Pune’s Kharadi area.While the children attended schools and colleges during the day, they allegedly lived at the facility, where police claim they were subjected to physical abuse and psychological manipulation.Investigators said the woman was gradually isolated from her family and brought under Mishra’s influence.The complaint alleges that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and tortured over several years.Police said she was given electric shocks and forced to consume the accused’s urine as part of the alleged abuse.“The guru called women to his bungalow with the promise of solving family, health and financial problems. He would then sexually abuse them,” the Pune police commissioner said.According to police, the complainant was kept under constant surveillance, with CCTV cameras installed inside her room. Mishra allegedly demanded private videos of the woman and her husband and used them to blackmail her, investigators said.Police said Mishra allegedly forced the woman to separate from her husband. The victim eventually broke the CCTV cameras and escaped from the bungalow, they added.During searches at Mishra’s ashram, police recovered several electronic devices, including laptops, hard disks, mobile phones, DVDs, CDs and pen drives.Cash worth around Rs 6.5 lakh and gold and silver ornaments valued at over Rs 15 lakh were also seized.Investigators also found a large quantity of medicines, including some that had expired. Police said they were probing their purpose.The Pune police said Mishra had allegedly planned an escape route through an underground tunnel, the construction of which was reportedly underway at the ashram.Police suspect the accused may have targeted more victims and said efforts were underway to identify them.The alleged offences took place between 2001 and 2026 in Haryana and Pune, police said.The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
