Sahaj Marg (tm) Leadership Accused of Extortion

Translation of an article from Alexis: "La SRCM devant la justice Indienne. Une tentative d'extortion de fonds", on Élodie's blog in Europe: Pour Que Vive Le Sahaj Marg.


Aug. 25, 2014.

Message from Alexis:

An Attempt at Extortion.  SRCM to Appear Before Indian Justice.
A short "press review" from Times of India, Pioneer (passing by Indore City) 



Commissioner Lodges Extortion Complaint Against SRCM.  Chennai.


TNN | Aug 24, 2014, 11.15 AM IST

BHOPAL:

Senior IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh and commissioner higher education, Sachin Sinha has lodged a complaint against Chennai-based Ram Chandra Mission for trying to extort Rs 10 lakh from him and his family. Sinha, an IAS officer of 1995 batch, said that he had been receiving threatening e-mails and phone calls. 

Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) is a non-profit organization which provides spiritual training and has its international headquarters based at Chennai. Sinha has named Rajagopalachari, president of SRCM, his son PR Krishnan and Kamlesh Patel in the FIR.

On Thursday night around 10 pm, Sinha went to Habibganj police station and lodged a complaint. Police have registered the case under Sections 386, 294, 506, 507 and 34 of the IPC. A separate case has been registered under IT act at Habibganj police station. Sinha stated that he was associated with the organization in the past, but left after he found the activities suspicious.

He said that Rajagopalachari, Krishna, Patel and others threatened him and his family of dire consequences if he failed to fulfill their demands. Sinha told TOI that the people associated with the organization could also be involved in unlawful activities in different states. Few members of the organization are also in Bhopal, he added.

Police said that a team would be sent to Chennai after recording detailed statement of the IAS officer. He had been receiving threatening mails and phone calls since April this year, police said. Few days back, Sinha gave an application to the police. Later, on Thursday, he went and insisted for an FIR.

Sinha lives in Char Imli area while his parents reside in Arera Colony. According to the police, some people also shouted near his bungalow to frighten him. Few days back, some unidentified persons left materials used in funeral pyre outside hisparents' house in Arera colony.

Quoting Sinha, police said that the organisation has been banned in France.

IAS officer accuses Chennai spiritual body with blackmail

August 24, 2014

Bhopal: The Commissioner of Higher Education Department, on Friday approached Habibganj police station and lodged a complaint against Chennai based spiritual organisation for allegedly demanding a donation of Rs 10 lakhs from him.

In his complaint, the Commissioner also alleged that they also threatened to kill him and his family members in case he did not provide the demanded amount. Following the complaint of the victim, the police have booked three people including director of organisation, his son and another person from management of organisation under sections 386, 294, 506, 507 and 34 of the IPC and charges of IT Act against the accused and started further investigation. TI, Habibganj GP Agrawal said that the complainant Sachin Sinha, 41, son of VP Sinha, a resident of D- 2/ 11 at Char Imli is posted as commissioner in Higher Education Department and earlier works in Home Ministry ( Statics) department.

Agrawal further said, Sinha in his complaint told the police that earlier he joined Chennai based Shreeramchandra Mission Ashram known for its yogic activities for meditation purpose. At the time of getting associated with the ashram located at 6 no stop in Shivaji Nagar he was told that no fees and donation was taken at the centre therefore Sinha took part in several activities of the ashram for several years.

Later when he came to know that due to some irregularities, the ashram was banned in France after which he left the centre. Meanwhile, from April 1 he started to get repeated phone calls and e- mails from director of organisation Parthsarthi Rajgopal Acharya, his son TR Krishna and Kamlesh Patel demanding donation of Rs 10 lakhs and threat to kill him and his family on condition of not paying the asked amount.

Subsequently, he approached Habibganj police station and lodged a complaint in this regard after which the police have booked three accused and started further investigation into the case while the call details and e- mails of Sachin Sinha will be verified by the police.

IAS OFFICER RECEIVES MAIL THREATS DEMANDING RS10L

Sunday, 24 August 2014 | Staff Reporter | Bhopal | in Bhopal

 

A sensational case of extortion demanding Rs10 lakh from an IAS officer who is posted as Commissioner in the Department of Higher Education in Madhya Pradesh has come to the fore in the State capital after the officer lodged a complaint with Habibganj police on Friday.

According to the police, the victim Sachin Sinha has been receiving threat mails demanding an extortion of Rs10 lakh for the past few months. In the complaint, the victim has claimed that he has received e-mails from Shri Ramchandra Mission of Chennai demanding extortion of Rs10 lakh and if he fails to provide the amount he along with his family would be eliminated. In his complaint, Sinha told police that he had joined Chennai based Shri Ramchandra Mission Ashram known for its yogic activities for meditation purpose.

At the time of getting associated with the ashram located at 6 no stop in Shivaji Nagar he was told that no fees and donation is taken but later when he came to know that due to some irregularities the ashram has been banned in France, he stopped visiting the ashram and since then he started receiving threatening mails.

SHO of Habibganj police station GD Agrawal said that a complaint regarding extortion e-mails has been received and based on the victim’s complaint a case has been registered and further investigation has been started. The police have registered a case under Section 386, 294, 506, 507 and 34 of the IPC of the IPC and 66 A of the Information Technology Act against Parthsarthi Rajgopal Acharya, PR Krishnan and Kamlesh Patel who are associated with the institute.

Agrawal informed that the possibility of an institute demanding extortion is suspicious and it seems that some miscreant might have accessed or has created a fake e-mail of the institute as several cases of the same nature have been reported in the past and number of such cases has increased significantly. Police said that the documents in which demand of extortion is made has been collected and would be investigated. The cyber experts would be roped in to provide technical assistance into the matter. Victim is receiving mails from April to till date.


Addendum as per comment received Aug. 30, 2014 (see comment section).  

This story seems to reflect some internal strife at the SRCM.  There seems to be some "trouble in paradise" between the management and a volunteer preceptor or a "prefect".  This is not simply from the "rank and file" but from yet another preceptor (the Sahaj Marg equivalent of a "priest" in Christianity): 

SRCM Functionaries trash IAS Officer's Allegations 

TNN | Aug 29, 2014, 12.16PM IST 

BHOPAL: The functionaries of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM), Chennai on Thursday refuted the extortion charges levelled by senior IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh and commissioner higher education, Sachin Sinha recently.

Sinha, has lodged a complaint against the Mission for trying to extort Rs 10 lakh from him and his family. In his complaint, Sinha stated that he had been receiving threatening e-mails and phone calls.

The mission issued a statement terming the allegations baseless. The statement said, "Not only the charges are false, they have been levelled to tarnish the goodwill and image of the mission."

The complainant resigned from the post of a mission functionary and later apologizing for his action, he again requested the mission to grant him the position, said the statement.

Sinha was practicing the Sahaj Marg system of Raja Yoga till March, 2014 and was also a prefect (spiritual trainer) in the mission.

Though the complaint deals with allegations about donations and threats, Sinha had not produced any substantive evidence while lodging the complaint.

Mission is run purely on voluntary contributions till date. We agree complainant has submitted copies of emails received by him from a functionary of the mission demanding money and also received threats over the phone. However, these emails are sent from various email IDs which don't belong to the mission and has not been used by the concerned functionary ever. The complaint lacks documentary evidence.

The mission administration requested the police to conduct thorough investigation and take appropriate legal action against the complainant if the charges are found to be false.

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