CultNEWS101 Newsletter: 7/20/2026

Updates

Legislative & Legal

India Today: UP Police rescues 300 trainees, arrests 19 in fake network marketing job scam

The Varanasi Fake MLM Job Scam

The headline refers to a major crackdown by the Uttar Pradesh Police and the cybercrime unit in Varanasi, which successfully dismantled a predatory multi-level marketing (MLM) and employment-fraud syndicate.

• The Arrests and Rescue: Authorities raided a fraudulent training facility, rescuing approximately 300 young adults who were being held and manipulated. Police arrested 19 individuals, including the alleged kingpin of the interstate operation, Deepak Kumar Shah.

• The Setup: The group operated under a fake entity called "Mahadev Enterprises," falsely presenting itself as a franchise of a legitimate wellness brand. They specifically targeted unemployed individuals across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, offering fake corporate or agricultural jobs with a promised monthly salary of ₹25,000.

• The Extortion Model: Candidates were brought to a professionally staged "corporate office" in Varanasi for interviews. Once hooked, they were forced to pay between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000 as a mandatory registration fee. In return, they received a cheap kit of basic goods (clothes, soap, oil) worth no more than ₹2,000.

• The Pyramid Structure: After paying the fee, recruits were sequestered in a training center where they underwent psychological manipulation. The organizers pressured them to trap at least three friends or family members into the network, threatening to withhold their salaries and deny any refunds if they failed to recruit new victims.

• The Financial Scale: Investigators have uncovered nearly ₹4 crore in bank transactions credited to the gang over the past year. During the raid, authorities seized laptops, dozens of mobile phones containing scripts and audio recordings of the fraud, vehicles, and fake corporate documents.

Resources

TED-Ed: How to spot a pyramid scheme - Stacie Bosley

The video breaks down the math behind the endless chain recruiting model, illustrating how the financial structure forces the bottom layer of recruits to lose money.

Mental Floss: The Overview of 7 Alleged Modern Pyramid Schemes 

This video details the mechanics of investment fraud versus retail-oriented recruitment traps, in which new sellers bear all the financial inventory risk.

NEW 2-MONTH SUPPORT GROUP SERIES - Cults. Coercive Control. Recovery. 

Beginning this July and continuing through August (Cult Awareness Month), we’ll be embarking on a special five-part educational support group series exploring cults, high-control groups, and the unique experiences of Black survivors of religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and cultic abuse.

For many Black survivors, leaving a high-control religious or spiritual environment is about more than walking away from a group. It can mean untangling years of fear, shame, manipulation, conditional belonging, identity confusion, and the loss of community.

This series was intentionally created to explore those experiences through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens.

Over five gatherings, we’ll explore:

• Let’s Talk About Cults: What Makes a Group a Cult?

• Recognizing Cultic Dynamics in Black Religious and Spiritual Communities

• From Jonestown to Carbon Nation: Exploring Cult Dynamics Across Popular Cults

• Breaking Free: Navigating Recovery After Cultic Abuse

• Beyond the Cult: Finding Your Way Forward

Together, we’ll examine how cults and high-control groups operate, discuss the unique ways these dynamics can emerge within Black religious and spiritual spaces, learn from historical and modern examples, and explore what healing and recovery can look like after cultic abuse.

Whether you’re questioning past experiences, making sense of your own story, or continuing your healing journey, this series is designed to provide education, validation, meaningful conversation, and community.

Understanding what happened is powerful.

Finding language for your experience can be liberating. And healing is possible.

If you’re a Black survivor looking for a compassionate space to learn, reflect, and connect with others who understand, we invite you to join us for this important series.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

CultNEWS101 News: 7/6/2026

Culture & Media

Videos

Deceived - The Jonestown Tragedy

Directed by Mel White, this documentary investigates the 1978 Peoples Temple massacre in Jonestown, Guyana, where 913 people died. Hosted by a pastor and seminary teacher, the film features exclusive interviews with survivors and family members to explore how ordinary, devoutly religious people from diverse backgrounds were subtly deceived by Jim Jones.

Initially, the Peoples Temple attracted followers by offering a deeply warm, racially integrated, and socially active community that cared for outcasts, drug addicts, and senior citizens. However, survivors detail the slow, calculated process of psychological manipulation used by Jones. He systematically replaced existing authorities in members' lives, positioning himself as the ultimate voice of God.

To enforce absolute dependence, Jones systematically isolated members from outside contact, banned regular media, and deliberately tore down nuclear families and marriages by forcing public confrontations. He maintained a punishing environment of severe sleep deprivation, requiring 16 to 18 hours of labor a day to leave followers too exhausted to question his choices. Discipline gradually escalated from whippings to the public torture of children and staged "poisoning" loyalty tests. Furthermore, members were coerced into turning over all personal incomes and properties, accumulating a hidden $26 million fortune while followers starved. The film concludes with the horrific audio recordings of Jones commanding his followers to execute an act of "revolutionary suicide," framing death as mere sleep.

Updates

Research & Academic.

Two-thirds of Americans think the average person is susceptible to cult recruitment

An October 2025 YouGov survey asked Americans which groups they think use cult-like tactics, which groups could be defined as cults, and who is susceptible to being recruited into cults. Many Americans think the average person is susceptible to being recruited into a cult, but very few see themselves as susceptible.

• Majorities of Americans say that political groups (68%), religious groups (64%), and spiritual groups (62%) very or somewhat often engage in coercive or cult-like behavior. 

• Majorities say the same about each of the social media platforms (56%) and online groups (56%); 48% say this about multi-level marketing businesses.

• Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say cult-like behavior often occurs with religious groups (72% vs. 53%) and spiritual groups (67% vs. 56%). Democrats are less likely than Republicans to say educational groups often engage in cult-like behavior (21% vs. 37%).

• Half of Americans say anyone is vulnerable to being recruited by a cult.

• About half (53%) of Americans believe that people who join coercive or cult-like groups are mostly victims of manipulation.

• About half of Americans believe people who join cult-like groups are victims of manipulation

• Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans think the average person is very or somewhat susceptible to being recruited by coercive or cult-like groups, including 12% who think the average person is very susceptible.

• Far fewer Americans (17%) say they themselves are susceptible to being recruited by cult-like groups. Adults under 30 are about twice as likely as older Americans to say they believe they are susceptible to being recruited by cult-like groups (29% vs. 14%).

• About one-third (35%) of Americans have been approached in person by a group or person that was part of a coercive or cult-like group. Americans who live in the West are more likely than those who live in other regions to have been approached by a group or person in a cult-like group (43% vs. 28%).

• Only 14% of Americans have been approached online by a group or person that was part of a coercive or cult-like group.

• One-third (32%) of Americans say they know someone who has joined a coercive or cult-like group, including 18% with an acquaintance, 12% with a friend, 12% with a family member (12%), and 3% who have personally joined a cult-like group. 40% of Americans who live in the West know someone who has joined a cult-like group, compared to 29% of those who live in other parts of the country.

• Nearly half (45%) of Americans say coercive or cult-like groups are more common today than they were in the past. Americans 65 and older are more likely than younger adults to say cults are more common now (56% vs. 42%).

Ongoing Focus

NDTV: Pune 'Godman' Abused Woman For Years, Made Her Drink His Urine

Radheshyam Mishra, aka Radhamohan Mishra, ran what he called a 'modern gurukul' in the Ubale Nagar area of Wagholi in Pune.

In a case from Pune, a self-styled "godman" named Radheshyam Mishra (aka Radhamohan Mishra) and seven of his associates have been arrested for the long-term exploitation of a woman. Operating under the guise of a "modern gurukul" in Wagholi, Mishra convinced the victim that he was an incarnation of God.

Between 2010 and 2016, Mishra systematically isolated the woman, forcing her to divorce her husband and submit to years of sexual abuse, physical assault, and torture, including the use of electric shocks. Furthermore, he blackmailed her using recorded obscene videos and coerced her into committing thefts to enrich himself and his ashram. Following a police raid, authorities seized large amounts of electronic evidence, cash, jewelry, and drugs. Police, currently analyzing the recovered materials, suspect there may be more victims and have called for a thorough investigation. All eight accused remain in custody.

Fox 13: Scientology wins battle over Clearwater street, lawsuit looms

The Clearwater City Council voted 3-2 on Thursday to allow the Church of Scientology to take control of a section of South Garden Avenue. The church plans to use this land, located between Franklin and Court streets, to construct a new venue, "L. Ron Hubbard Hall," as part of an expansion of its downtown campus.

The decision followed hours of heated debate at a meeting that drew over 2,000 people to the Clearwater Main Library, prompting officials to implement a strict public comment system. Proponents argued the closure would enhance church security and provide a space for community events. Conversely, opponents, including Mayor Bruce Rector, criticized the transfer of public land without a plan for an alternative route.

Despite the council's approval, the controversy is ongoing. A grassroots organization called "Save The Garden," which opposes the proposal, has already filed a lawsuit challenging the decision. The legal conflict centers on the contested ownership of the land underneath the street, setting the stage for a judicial review of the city’s action.

SportsNet: How Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease uses yoga to unlock success on the mound

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease has distinguished himself in the major leagues not only for his mound performance but also for his unique approach to mental and physical preparation. A practitioner of yoga and meditation, Cease credits these "internal arts" as fundamental to his success.

Rather than viewing yoga merely as a workout, Cease utilizes it to cultivate internal awareness, body alignment, and the ability to maintain focus under the intense pressure of professional baseball. He has spent significant time studying under the guidance of yogi Sadhguru, learning practices that focus on transcending the mind and building mental resilience. For Cease, these routines help him stay grounded through the natural ups and downs of a long season, allowing him to enter a "flow state" more effectively. This commitment to mindfulness has become a hallmark of his persona, setting him apart from typical clubhouse culture and contributing to his consistency.

AI Research Disclosure: To bring you the most relevant stories, parts of this newsletter utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search the web, source articles, and assist with content curation. This content is for informational purposes only; we recommend verifying critical facts independently.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan, Joseph Kelly, or Ashlen Hilliard endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Please forward articles you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

How The Beatles Got Wrapped up in India and How It Completely Changed the Trajectory of Their Career

Alex Hopper

American Songwriter 

June 16, 2026

The Beatles' 1968 trip to India marked a pivotal turning point in their career, acting as both a creative catalyst and a catalyst for the band's ultimate dissolution.

Seeking an alternative to the drug-fueled culture of the 1960s, the band—guided by George Harrison’s burgeoning interest in Eastern philosophy—turned to Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. While the retreat proved incredibly prolific, resulting in the writing of songs like "Dear Prudence," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," and "Mother Nature's Son," it simultaneously de-influenced the group. Disillusionment set in as the band members grew wary of the Maharishi’s financial demands and allegations regarding his behavior toward women in their group.

The lasting impact, however, was the profound shift in the band's internal dynamic. Upon returning, they emerged as individuals rather than a cohesive unit. Harrison deepened his commitment to Eastern philosophy, Paul McCartney pursued his own pragmatic songwriting path, and John Lennon adopted a hardened, cynical perspective that would define his solo work.

While the trip to India provided a unique creative atmosphere that birthed lasting music, it also highlighted and accelerated the divergent personalities and creative differences among the members. Ultimately, the experience shifted the trajectory of their careers, fostering an focus on individualism that made it impossible for the band to survive, rendering their eventual breakup almost inevitable.

https://americansongwriter.com/how-the-beatles-got-wrapped-up-in-india-and-how-it-completely-changed-the-trajectory-of-their-career/

ED cracks down on “illegal” sale of SRMF properties worth crores

Agency conducts searches in Delhi and Noida in money laundering probe linked to alleged forged documents, fake resolutions and sale of Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation lands across multiple States

The Hindu Bureau

Msy 14, 2026

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched search operations against a syndicate accused of forging documents and impersonating office-bearers to allegedly sell prime properties belonging to the Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation of India (SRMF), the agency said on Thursday (May 14, 2026).

The case involves land transactions allegedly worth hundreds of crores. The agency initiated the investigation on May 7 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is now focusing on key conspirators.

“The ED’s preliminary investigations have identified G. Ram Chandra Mohan and Akash Malviya as the principal suspects and alleged masterminds behind the elaborate conspiracy. Despite being previously arrested in FIR No. 328/2011 in Chhattisgarh, he (Mr. Mohan) continued his unlawful activities in active connivance with associates,” the agency said.

The ED conducted searches at the premises of Mr. Mohan and Mr. Malviya in Delhi’s Narayan Vihar, and at the premises of one Ram Shyam in Burari. Searches were also carried out at Singhvahini Infra Projects Private Limited in Sector 100 of Noida in Uttar Pradesh and at the residence of its associate, Pradeep Singh, in Sector 105, Noida.

SRMF, a society registered in 1963 under the Societies Registration Act and linked to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, owns substantial immovable properties across multiple States.

“However, a group of accused persons allegedly used forged authority letters, fabricated resolutions, and fake seals to illegally sell these lands,” the agency alleged.

In one case reported in December 2025, a 3.3610-hectare parcel of land in Gejha Tilpatabad village in Noida was allegedly sold fraudulently by Mr. Malviya using a fictitious entity with an identical name, “The Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation of India”, to Singhvahini Infra Projects Private Limited for a declared consideration of ₹16 crore, far below the circle rate of ₹33.61 crore, according to the ED.

At least seven FIRs have been registered in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Dhar and Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh, and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh.

In another case in Noida, the same land was allegedly sold again in January 2026 to Vaam Dev Private Limited. The agency alleged that the accused executed a ₹3.48-crore sale using a fake board resolution.

The ED further alleged that 39.96 hectares of land were “illegally” sold in Shajapur, while in Bilaspur, 75 acres were sold through eight “fake” sale deeds in alleged conspiracy with revenue officials.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ed-cracks-down-on-illegal-sale-of-srmf-properties-worth-crores/article70978633.ece?hl=en-US

CultNEWS101 Articles: 10/31/2025

Sex Cults, Maharishi University of Management & Technology, India, 764

A Little Bit Culty: Joshua Paddison: Unraveling America's First Sex Cult Scandal (Part 1)

"Joshua Paddison, a US historian, author, and bona fide expert in the wild world of American cults, spiritualist communes, and utopian experiments. Josh spent years hunting down primary sources and unearthing the surprising connections between 19th-century scandal, religious innovation, and the birth of cult culture as we know it. His tale includes international intrigue, breathwork mystics, spiritual seekers, and even sex scandals that laid the groundwork for the culty headlines we see today. If you've ever wondered about the OG roots of groupthink, word salad, or how the term "cult" even came to exist."

Trak: 3 Amity Universities Along With 54 Others Declared Defaulters By UGC: Check Complete List

"In a major move to ensure transparency and accountability, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued notices to 54 private universities across India for failing to share crucial institutional details as mandated under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956. These institutions did not upload the required information on their official websites or submit verified documents in the prescribed format despite repeated reminders.

In June 2024, the UGC directed all universities to make important institutional data publicly accessible on their websites. This included administrative information, accreditation details, and academic programs, aimed at maintaining transparency and aiding student decision-making. Universities were also required to submit verified copies of the data to the Commission for inspection.

However, several universities ignored these directives, prompting the UGC to officially categorize them as defaulters. The commission emphasized that such non-compliance affects public trust and violates governance norms expected of higher education institutions."

7. Maharishi University of Management & Technology, Bilaspur.

IJR: Alleged '764' Cult Follower Charged With Child Sex Crime Amid Crackdown On Terror Network

"Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a 19-year-old California man linked to the extremist "764" cult with a string of crimes, including child sexual exploitation, animal abuse, and online threats.

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California indicted Tony Christopher Long on six felony counts, including sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child sexual abuse material, cyberstalking, and transmitting interstate threats, according to the press release. Long remains in state custody on related charges.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Long's alleged crimes highlight the brutality of the "764" movement.

"This defendant allegedly engaged in acts of extreme cruelty by exploiting a child, abusing animals, and threatening violence — his conduct reflects the depravity of '764,'" Bondi said.  'These networks seek to terrorize and destabilize our communities by preying on the most vulnerable, and the Justice Department will stop at nothing to dismantle this network and bring offenders to justice.'"

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 10/13/2025

India, Maharishi, Unification Church, Korea, Japan, Legal

The Live Nagpur: State-Wise List: 54 Indian Universities Declared Defaulters

"The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice to 54 state private universities across India for failing to submit information under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956, and for not uploading their public self-disclosure details on their official websites.

The directive follows UGC guidelines on public self-disclosure issued on June 10, 2024, which mandate that all higher education institutions maintain a functional website that provides relevant information to students and stakeholders. Universities were required to submit detailed information in a prescribed electronic format, along with supporting documents attested by the university registrar. They were also instructed to upload these details on their websites with a clearly visible link on the homepage.

Despite multiple reminders via emails and online meetings, the listed universities have not complied. The defaulting institutions [include Maharishi University of Management and Technology, Bilaspur, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur]."

Korea Times: Court dismisses lawmaker's, Unification Church leader's petitions against arrest

"A Seoul court has dismissed the petitions of Rep. Kweon Seong-dong and Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja against their arrests, keeping them in custody over their alleged exchange of illegal political funds for favors.

The Seoul Central District Court issued the rulings late Wednesday, hours after holding hearings to review whether their arrests last month were legal and should remain in place.

"Based on the results of suspect questioning and the case records, it is acknowledged that the requests have no cause," the bench said, ruling in favor of special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, which had cited risks the suspects would destroy evidence."

South China Morning Post: Japanese court orders Unification Church to pay US$340,000 to 3 over donations scam

"Lawyers helping victims of the Unification Church's aggressive donation solicitation practices in Japan said on Thursday that an arbitration had been concluded, ordering the church to pay a total of more than 50 million yen (US$340,000) in damages to three former believers in their eighties – the first such agreement between the two parties.

The arbitration case filed with the Tokyo District Court was one of over 180 cases brought by victims seeking around 6 billion yen over the issue, which came to light following the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 by a man who claimed to hold a grudge against the church due to its aggressive fundraising.

The group, known as Lawyers from Across Japan for the Victims of the Unification Church, began arbitration proceedings in July 2023 after the church refused to engage in collective bargaining on the matter.

A woman who was swindled out of around 36 million yen by the church said that she "hopes other victims will reach a resolution soon", adding that she had been frustrated by the deception."

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 10/6/2025

Japan, Religion Research, Orthodox Church, Sexual Abuse, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, India

Unseen Japan: How Religion and Politics Are Intertwined in Japan

"When people talk about religion and politics in Japan, they often call the country 'secular' or even 'atheist." Surveys back this up. Around 70 percent of Japanese people describe themselves as mushūkyō (non-religious).

Yet this reflects a gap in definitions, not an absence of practice.

The concept behind the word shūkyō was imported from the West in the 19th century, tied to churches and doctrine. In Japan, religion is lived more through practice than formal affiliation. New Year shrine visits, Buddhist funerals, and local festivals remain widespread. What looks secular is often ritual by another name.

Politics offers another counter to the "Japan is atheist" claim. Even after WWII, religious groups continued to play a role in democracy. They mobilized votes, backed political allies, and shaped constitutional debates. [This article] takes  a closer look at their sometimes stabilizing, sometimes even controversial influence on Japanese politics."

RNS: New website alerts Orthodox Church to 'clergy sex abuse problem it must reckon with'

"Two Orthodox Christian women have created a new website about sexual misconduct and abuse in their denomination that not only names names, but offers victims help in coming to terms with their trauma.

More than two years after Katherine Archer and Hermina Nedelescu decided more needed to be done to advocate for clergy abuse survivors, the two recently debuted Prosopon Healing as a way to call attention to the problem. "Katherine and I were determined not to be silenced," said Nedelescu. "The Orthodox Church has a clergy sex abuse problem it must reckon with."

But the two founders — one a therapist-in-training, the other a neuroscientist — also present evidence-based research and supportive resources rooted in behavioral neuroscience to explain the actions of the predator and the victim. Its database collates third-party information across the internet on documented and alleged Orthodox clergy abuse.

The Prosopon site draws heavily on work by Melanie Sakoda and Cappy Larson, who for decades collected information for their now-retired Orthodox abuse website, Pokrov.org. "The reason Katherine and I did this in a year and a half and completed it in two years is because of Melanie and Cappy," Nedelescu said. "Melanie gave us the list. We ourselves also did a thorough search, but many of the names are coming from Melanie's work."

The new database adds an extra layer to account for multiple levels of authority. For each alleged or charged abuser, the list adds the overseeing bishop whom the abuser ultimately reports to."

Statesman News Service: 'Abuse in the name of 'spiritual growth': Swami Chaitanyananda's misdeeds

"A severe case of sexual harassment has surfaced in Delhi involving self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, formerly known as Swami (Dr.) Parthasarathy, police said on Thursday, with several women, especially those belonging to underprivileged families, accusing him of repeated sexual harassment, intimidation, and abuse of power.

The Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, filed a complaint against the godman. Soon after the allegations, the Peetham announced that it had cut all ties with him and cancelled the powers of attorney that had given him authority over the Sringeri Peetham.

According to the FIR registered at Vasant Kunj North police station, the survivors have alleged that Chaitanyananda often messaged them at odd hours and pressured them to visit his quarters late at night during foreign trips, calling such encounters 'necessary for spiritual growth and education.'

A complaint initially surfaced through a letter written by an Indian Air Force officer and former student of the institute, which alerted the management."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families in making the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 10/3/2025

Kingdom of Canada, India,  Amritanandamayi,  La Luz del Mundo

Global News: Richmound mayor describes aftermath of cult raid

"Sewage water continues to seep into a large puddle near the entrance of a purple school-turned-compound that housed members of a cult in the southwest Saskatchewan village of Richmound for the last two years.

Although the "Kingdom of Canada" was driven out earlier this month after a police raid, Mayor Brad Miller says the sewage water — overflow from toilets and sinks inside the building — remains.

"If there's wind, people probably 500 feet away can smell it," says Miller, 64, in an interview.

"If you get it on your hands or whatever, you can smell it for hours. It stinks like you wouldn't believe."

Miller thinks daily about how to keep members of the group out if they return.

'I'm fed up. My family's fed up. If you came out to the southwest, people are just fed up. It's enough. It's scary.'"

The Hindu: Madras High Court orders inspection of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus run by Mata Amritanandamayi Math

"The Madras High Court has directed the Forest Department officials to inspect the Mata Amritanandamayi Math-run Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a deemed university campus at Ettimadai, located at the foothills of Bouluvampatty ranges of the Western Ghats in Coimbatore district, and find out whether it fully complies with the 17 conditions imposed before granting building permission.

A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the jurisdictional District Forest Officer (DFO) to conduct the inspection along with amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji, and M. Santhanaraman on a convenient date to all the parties concerned, and submit a detailed report before the court on or before September 12, 2025.

The orders were passed after senior counsel R. Sankaranarayanan, representing the Math, told the court that the institution was fully in compliance of the 17 conditions imposed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) on January 18, 2024, for converting 12.622 hectares of agricultural dry lands for educational purposes, and that it was also open to any inspection.

"If there are any defects, we will cure it immediately," the senior counsel said after the High Court in July this year suo motu impleaded the Math as one of the respondents to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition related to the protection of forests and elephant corridors. The Math was impleaded following a complaint that it had erected a two-kilometre-long electric fence, disturbing free movement of elephants.

Filing an affidavit on behalf of the Math, its authorised signatory G. Gopakumar, 54, residing on the Ettimadai campus, said: "We have erected green solar smart fencing in the border areas of our patta (revenue document related to private land ownership) lands by complying with the technical specifications formulated by the Tamil Nadu Power Fences (Registration and Regulation) Rules, 2023."

He pointed out that one of the 17 conditions imposed by the PCCF permits fencing around the lands in conformity with the 2023 Rules. He also asserted that the institution had provided a 150-metre vacant buffer zone between the lands belonging to the institution and the border of the forest areas in order to ensure free movement of all kinds of wild animals, including elephants.

"We have provided three troughs and supply water through pipelines for drinking by forest animals. We ensure the availability of water at all times. We also allow the existing natural stream running through our patta lands without any obstruction or alteration of direction. We mainly grow forest trees which do not attract forest animals," the affidavit filed by Mr. Gopakumar read.

Stating that Mata Amritanandamayi, a spiritual leader fondly called Amma by her followers, firmly believes in showing compassion towards all living beings, the deponent of the affidavit said, she always promotes harmony in nature and insists on protecting plants and animals too. He also stated that the Math runs educational institutions because she believes that education would eradicate poverty."

El Pais: The secret guard of La Luz del Mundo: A training camp in Mexico reveals the church leader's iron grip

"A security operation arrived at dawn at a plot of land in the municipality of Vista Hermosa, Michoacán, believing they would be facing a cartel. Residents had reported a training camp for organized crime, a specter that remains vivid in the minds of Mexicans after the discovery of the sinister ranch in Teuchitlán in Jalisco. The scene fit all the characteristics. Security forces arrested 38 men and seized what appeared to be high-powered firearms and tactical gear. What puzzled them was that the detainees did not identify themselves as cartel hitmen, but as members of the evangelical church La Luz del Mundo (The Light of the World).

The men were training to be part of a special corps created to protect the church's leader, Naasón Joaquín García, and his immediate family. This is the Jahzer Guard, which traces its origins back to another tactical group, the Jericho Guard, formed by Samuel Joaquín, Naasón's father. Until the raid at the training camp in Michoacán, very little had surfaced about the praetorian guards of La Luz del Mundo. It represents a new thread in the enigmatic web of corruption surrounding the sect, which has already begun to unravel. In the United States, Joaquín has been sentenced in California for child sexual abuse and now faces a new indictment for organized crime and human trafficking in New York.

One of the survivors of the apostle's abuse, Sharim Guzmán, told EL PAÍS that these guards serve to protect the church's leaders and their families wherever they are, and to watch over their homes; they are also tasked with guarding temples and congregant neighborhoods, chiefly Hermosa Provincia, a district in Guadalajara (the capital of the state of Jalisco) created in the apostle's own image — a sort of cultural and political power center of the church."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultintervention@gmail.com.