Spiked prasad, forced marriages: How IITian-turned-baba drugged and raped engineering graduates

A self-styled spiritual guru has been held for allegedly drugging, raping and blackmailing women in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The accused, identified as Abhishek Mishra of Odisha, who is an IIT graduate, operated under the religious alias "Adikarta Narayan Das."

Police said on Tuesday (June 2) that Mishra, 29, lured young women with the promise of marriage, spiritual guidance and better career prospects.

The case came to light after a complaint was registered by one of the victims, a 22-year-old BSc Nursing student from Chhattisgarh. She lodged a complaint at the Govardhan police station on May 25. The accused Mishra has now been booked under rape.

We take a look.

Who is the accused, Abhishek Mishra?

Mishra hails from Bhubhaneswar, Odisha and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand. He studied there between 2017 and 2021. However, after the course, he left his career and became a self-styled godman.

More from Explainers

The accused maintained a professional profile on LinkedIn under his assumed name.

During interrogation, Mishra told police that he graduated around five years ago and worked at a private company. He had a salary package of Rs 20 lakh per annum before moving to Mathura, the Hindu reported.

Initially, he started a fake spiritual guru-work in a rented house and later bought a house in Radha Kund, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh.

How an IITian baba built a cult to exploit women

Mishra resided in the Radhakunj area of Mathura for about four years, where he presented himself as a Kathavachak (religious storyteller).

He then widened his reach by running a YouTube channel called "Radha Kripa Amrita," through which he delivered sermons in both Hindi and English.

According to officials, Mishra used his YouTube and LinkedIn platforms not only to grow his following but to identify and target young women, especially those with engineering backgrounds.

He then would brainwash women into staying in his ashram and sexually exploit them.

Marriage promise, then drugs in 'prasad'

Mishra began manipulating women through his fake spiritual videos and then forced them into breaking ties with their families and moving in with him, police allege. At one point, around 24 young men and women were living together at his residence in Mathura.

Officials further added that, after brainwashing them with his spiritual influence, Misha then proposed Gandharva Vivah (love marriage). He used this as a pretext for exploitation.

PTI quoted Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Goverdhan circle of Mathura, Anil Kumar Singh, saying that the woman who filed a complaint alleged that Mishra offered her milk, claiming that it was a “prasad" and that it contained an intoxicating substance.

After consuming the milk, the woman said that she lost consciousness and was allegedly raped by Mishra. He then recorded obscene photographs and videos of her.

Obscene photographs and videos recovered from his mobile phone are now part of the police probe.

The accused Mishra did not stop there. He threatened the victim and subsequently sought Rs 5 lakh, warning that if she did not obey and failed to pay, then he would circulate her videos.

He not only exploited those women living with him but also extorted money from their families.

About six months before his arrest, the family of one of the women arrived to take her home. NDTV reported, citing police sources, that Mishra and his associates triggered a confrontation and ruckus.

Mishra's mother, who had initially lived with him, eventually left the house because of her son's conduct, the police noted. Initially, he lived in a rented house in the area, and later built his own house.

Officials also rescued two young women and a man from his house and handed them over to their families.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat asserted that legal proceedings are underway and that the accused, Mishra, has been sent to jail. A detailed investigation into Mishra's background and his victims is on, Rawat added.

With inputs from agencies