He allegedly used to drug the women.
A self-styled Indian guru known as ‘Jalebi Baba’ has been jailed for 14 years after a court found him guilty of raping more than 100 women.
Amarveer, popularly known as ‘Jalebi Baba’, also received a jail term under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act after he was convicted of raping a minor.
Six victims appeared in court to give their statements.
Representing the victims, Sanjay Verma said the sentences will run concurrently.
He added that the guru was acquitted in a separate case relating to the law on arms and ammunition.
Mr Verma added: “He has been in jail for the last four-and-a-half years and will have to stay in jail for nine-and-a-half years.
“The accused Baba was acquitted in the Arms Act. Other details of the judgment will be revealed after seeing the copy of the order.”
But who is he and what is the case about?
Police in Haryana arrested ‘Jalebi Baba’ in 2018 following a tip-off.
Officers recovered 120 sex videos from his phone.
During the investigation, it was revealed that women used to approach Amarveer to solve their problems. He had developed a reputation as an occultist.
He allegedly used to drug the women.
Afterwards, he would forcibly have sex with them and film the acts.
Then, Amarveer used to blackmail the women by threatening to upload the videos online unless they give him money.
The rapes came to light when an informer showed a sex video to the then-Tohana Police Station House Officer Pradeep Kumar.
Based on the complaint, the accused guru was booked under sections 292, 293, 294, 376, 384 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code and section 67-A of the IT Act.
At the time, a police officer said:
“It appears the person indulging in sexual activities in these clippings is the same baba, though we will get it examined from the cyber cell.
“Two of the victims have already come forward, though, it is yet to be verified whether their videos were also prepared.
“All video clippings have been prepared with the help of mobile phones.”
Amarveer is said to be a 63-year-old widower and the father of four girls and two boys.
Originally from the town of Mansa in Punjab, Amarveer moved to Tohana in 2000. During the first 13 years, he ran a jalebi stall.
He then met a tantric who convinced him to take up occult practices.
Amarveer left Tohana for a few years before returning and building a house with a temple next to it.
As he continued his work as an occultist, Amarveer grew his reputation and became known as ‘Jalebi Baba’. He also gained followers, many of whom were women.
The investigation revealed that many of his female followers were his victims.
In 2018, the wife of a friend accused Amarveer of raping her inside his temple. However, he secured bail.
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