STUDENTS DISPLAY SPORTING SPIRIT

The Hindu
July 30, 2016 

July 30 marked the fifth annual Sports Day of Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Polachery. Events including the 4 x 100 meters relay race, gymnastics, silambam and karate., were organised. The chief guest Harsha N Sagar, Senior Program Manager and Training Coordinator, Fitkids Education & Training Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, and the special guest Thamilselvam, former secretary of Kanchipuram District Foot Ball Association, distributed the prizes to the winners

Maharishi Institute Of Creative Intelligence. Versus Assistant Commissioner Of Income-Tax.

Oct162013

Maharishi Institute Of Creative Intelligence. Versus Assistant Commissioner Of Income-Tax. – Income Tax – ITAT ALLAHABAD-B – Tri – Assessing Officer, Assessment Year, Fixed Deposit, Interest Income, Society For Educational Purposes – 1996 (12) TMI 93 – ITAT ALLAHABAD-B – ITD 062, 169, TTJ 058, 658, – - – Dated:- 18-12-1996 – Member(s) : R. K. GUPTA., V. K. SINHA. ORDER Per V.K Sinha, A.M. 

— The appeal for assessment year 1991-92 has been filed by the department, whereas the appeal for assessment year 1993-94 has been filed by the assessee. The issue is the same and, therefore, the two appeals are being disposed of by a common order. 

2. For assessment year 1991-92, the assessee filed a return as an A.O.P. Trust showing nil income. It was claimed that the income was exempt under section 10(22) of the Act as an educational institution existing solely for educational purposes. An Auditors report under section 12A(b) of the Act was enclosed along with the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet. 

3. In the course of the hearing, a copy of Memorandum of Association was filed according to which the objects of the society were as under :– (i) To propagate and apply the science of yoga through the science of creative intelligence and its practical aspect the transcendental meditation (also abbreviated as TM) and TM-sidhi programme as propounded by his Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. (ii) To fulfil the goals of the world plan as formulated in 1972 by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi : (a) To develop the full potential of the individual. (b) To realise the highest ideal of education. (c) To solve the problems of crime, drug abuse and all behaviour that brings unhappiness to the family of man. (d) To maximise the intelligent use of the environment. (e) To bring fulfilment to the economic and other aspiration of the individual and society. (f) To achieve the spiritual goals of mankind in this generation. (iii) To open training centres throughout India in accordance with the world plan formulated by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. (iv) To get the science of creative intelligence made a subject of teaching and examination in all the different colleges. (v) To take steps for the establishment in each University in India a separate faculty for the teaching of the science of creative intelligence. (vi) To buy build, lease, rent or otherwise acquire centres for training and practice of the programmes developed to fulfil the objects of the society. (vii) To undertake and promote the training of various educational programmes and other skills. (viii) To undertake and promote any activity that will enable the participants of the society s programmes to be self-sufficient or otherwise raise the fund for the society including Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy Farming, Bee Farming, Cottage and Small Scale Industries, Khadi Udyog, architectural and constructional activities, etc., with the sole motive bringing fulfilment to the goals of the society and without any profit motive. (ix) To accept, receive, give and take voluntary donations, grants etc. from individuals, organisations and private and government bodies in India and abroad for the furtherance of the objects of the society. 

3A. After going through the objects, the Assessing Officer took a view that the basic purpose of the society was to propagate the teachings of His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who was a religious Guru. 

He examined the other clauses also with reference to the following cases :– 1. Rao Bahadur A.K.D. Dharmaraja Education Charity Trust v. CIT [1990] 182 ITR 80 (Mad.). 2. CIT v. Radhaswami Satsangh [1981] 132 ITR 647/[1980] 4 Taxman 512 (All.). 3. Addl. CIT v. Aditanar Educational Institution [1979] 118 ITR 235 (Mad.).

4. Thereafter, he came to the conclusion that the exemption claimed by the assessee under section 10(22) of the Act could not be given for the following reasons :– 

(i) The assessee was not existing solely for educational purposes, but for purpose of propagating religious faith and belief of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. 
(ii) Huge annual payment by way of lease rent to Maharishi Institute of Creative Intelligence, New Delhi together with the fact that heavy amounts of surplus were generated from year to year showed that the society was siphoning out funds. The claim of existing not for profit was not acceptable. The assessee-society had paid annual rent of building amounting to Rs. 3 lakhs to Maharishi Institute of Creative Intelligence, New Delhi. 
(iii) Income from interest during the year was not relatable to the profit of running the institution. There was interest on fixed deposit of Rs. 30,336 during the year.

(vi) Alternative possibility of application of section 11 read with sections 12 and 13 was not acceptable since the objectives were not existing wholly for charitable purposes. Further there was no registration under section 12A of the Act. 

5. Thereafter, the Assessing Officer held that the income was chargeable under section 28 of the Act as income from business/profession. The surplus in the Income and Expenditure Account of Rs. 9,52,237 was taken and after some small adjustments, the total income was computed at Rs. 9,56,260. 

6. The assessee filed an appeal before the CIT(A). 
In the statement of facts, it was mentioned that the assessee-society had established an educational institution Maharishi Vidya Mandir (Public School), Sitapur Road, Lucknow, which had a distinct personality and existence separate from the parent body i.e., the society. Separate accounts for the two entities were wholly justified wherein those for the School would be exclusively with reference of the educational activities entitled for exemption under section 10(22) of the Act, while that of the parent body showing other income, which will have benefit of exemption under sections 11 and 12 of the Act. Reliance was placed on Birla Vidya Vihar Trust v. CIT [1982] 136 ITR 445/[1981] 7 Taxman 391 (Cal.). 

7. In the grounds of appeal, it was stated that the Memorandum of Association clearly indicated that it had educational objects besides others. The society was running Maharishi Vidya Mandir (Public School) through a separately constituted Managing Committee since 1984. No other activity had been carried out by the assessee besides running the School during the year. The School was affiliated with Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi and its syllabus was approved by it.

8. It is further denied in the Grounds of Appeal that the school was running for profit motive. The lease rent has been paid taking into consideration the building made available for running the school and huge investment made therein. The surplus in the income and Expenditure Account was utilised in the expansion of educational facilities. The surplus had not been diverted to any person or individual. 

9. It was further denied that the society was siphoning out the funds to the parent society. The Maharishi Institute of Creative Intelligence, New Delhi was not a parent society but a separate entity. No funds had been transferred to it. The surplus was utilised for expansion of educational facilities and no person or individual was entitled to any portion of it. Reliance was placed on Governing Body of Rangaraya Medical College v. ITO [1979] 117 ITR 284 (AP). 

10. It was further submitted that the income from interest was relatable to the profit or running the institution. 

11. In the end in Ground No. 6, it was stated that the Assessing Officer had erred in holding that section 11, read with sections 12 and 13, of the Act was not applicable. 

12. In the course of hearing before the CIT(A), some further submissions was made. It was stated that although during the year the assessee did not carry out Transcendental Meditation (T.M.), yet T.M. itself was an education. Reliance was placed on a decision of A-Bench, Delhi of the Tribunal for assessment year 1981-82 in the case of ITO v. S.R.M. Foundation of India [IT Appeal No. 983 (Delhi) of 1985]. It was next stated that the decision in the case of Radhaswami Satsang was not applicable since the facts were distinguishable. The decision of the Hon ble Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust v. CIT [1975] 101 ITR 234 was also stated to be distinguishable on fact. In the end, it was claimed that the educational institution existed solely for educational purposes without profit motive during the year under consideration and, therefore, exemption under section 10(22) should be given. 

13. The CIT(A) took into consideration the following decisions :– 1. Birla Vidya Vihar Trust s case. 2. Addl. CIT v. Aditanar Educational Institution s case. 3. Governing Body of Rangaraya Medical College s case. 4. CIT v. Devi Educational Institution [1984] 18 Taxman 221 (Mad.). 

14. Thereafter, the CIT(A) came to the conclusion that the assessee-society qualified for exemption under section 10(22) of the Act for the following reasons : (i) Besides other objects, in his an object to undertake and promote the training of various educational programmes and other such kinds. (ii) In the year under consideration it exited solely for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit, and (iii) The surplus generated through its educational activities was not for profit motive as the same was to be used for the expansion of the educational facility. 

15. The CIT(A) further held that the funds were not being siphoned out, but merely rent was paid. T.M. itself was in the nature of education, although in this year the assessee did not propagate or carry out T.M. activities. The interest income from fixed deposits also related to educational activity because the Fixed Deposits had come out of educational activities in the past and were made to ensure repayment of liabilities. The society existed solely for educational purposes and not for purposes of profit in this year. He, therefore, held that the income was exempt under section 10(22) of the Act. 

16. Having held as above, he further observed that the contentions in all other grounds were not being considered as they became infructuous. Thus, he did not give any finding whether the income was exempt under section 11, read with sections 12 and 13, of the Act. 

17. The department is in appeal before us for this year and it is stated that the society did not exist solely for educational purposes and had a profit motive, due to which exemption under section 10(22) cannot be allowed. 

18. For assessment year 1993-94, a similar claim for exemption of income was made under section 10(22) of the Act by the assessee. Both sides agreed before us that the reasons for rejecting the claim by the Assessing Officer were similar. We may, however, note that he further relied on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust, where it was held that the sense in which the word education has been used in section 2(15) is the systematic instruction, schooling and training given to the young in preparation for the work of life. Finally he adopted the surplus of Rs. 16,94,900 in the Income and Expenditure Account as the income of the assessee. The income was taxed at maximum marginal rate under section 167B of the Act. 

19. This year, the CIT(A) confirmed the order of the Assessing Officer. He went through the objects given in the Memorandum of Association and observed that the society had not been explicitly authorised by any of its clauses to open and run schools. Thereafter, he examined the objects with a view to ascertain whether they fell within the meaning of the term education as given in section 10(22) of the Act. For this purpose, he relied on the decision of the Supreme Court in Sole Trustee, Loka Shikshana Trust s case, where the meaning of the terms education in the context of section 2(15) of the Act had been explained. The sense in which the word education has been used in section 2(15) is the systematic instruction, schooling or training given to the young in preparation for the work of life. The word education had not been used in that wide and extended sense according to which every acquisition of further knowledge constitutes education. It connotes the process of training and developing the knowledge, skill, mind and character of students by normal schooling . The CIT(A) noted that the Rajasthan High Court had held in CIT v. Maharaja Sawai Mansinghji Musuem Trust [1988] 169 ITR 379 that the pronouncements were wise enough to cover the case of educational institution for the purpose of section 10(22) of the Act. Following these decisions, the CIT(A) found that none of the objects of the assessee-society fell within the meaning of the term education . The school, Maharishi Vidya Mandir was one of its units and the financial affairs were managed by the same set of Managers. 

20. The CIT(A) further took a view that to be entitled for, benefit under section 10(22) of the Act, the educational institution must continue to live for all time to come for the sole and exclusive object of educational purpose . The fact that school money could be used for non-educational purposes showed that the society was not existing solely for purposes of education. He also took an adverse view of the fact that the society had interest income, donation income and income from running of a bus.

21. Finally, the CIT(A) held that the school run by the appellant-society cannot be said to be existing solely for the purposes of education. In other words, the condition laid down in section 10(22) remains unfulfilled. He upheld the levy of tax on the surplus of income over expenditure. 

22. The assessee is in appeal before us for this year. One set of grounds of appeal are directed against the CIT(A) s not considering exemption under section 11 of the Act, although ground No. 4 before him related to this alternative contention. The second set of grounds relate to exemption under section 10(22) of the Act. 

23. Ground No. 6 relating to recognition of the assessee as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 was not pressed before us. Ground No. 13 regarding initiation of proceedings under section 271(1)(c) was also not pressed. Ground No. 14 regarding tax calculations was also not pressed. These grounds are accordingly rejected. 

24. On similar facts, exemption under section 10(22) as well as under section 11 of the Act has been denied in the assessment orders for assessment years 1991-92 and 1993-94. The CIT(A) has allowed exemption in assessment year 1991-92, but confirmed denial of exemption in assessment year 1993-94 under section 10(22) of the Act. No finding has been given by the CIT(A) in respect of exemption under section 11 for any of the two years. 

25. The learned Departmental Representative relied on the reasoning in the order of the CIT(A) for assessment year 1993-94 in respect of both the years before us. Our attention was also invited to the Income and Expenditure Account………………

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Maharishi Organises Dengue Awareness Rally

Express News Service
November 3, 2014

• 

CHENNAI: To create awareness among people and reduce the occurrence of dengue, students of Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Metro Sameera Gardens, Nenmeli Village, Chengalpet conducted a rally on October 1.

The rally with 230 students participating, started at old bus stand and ended at Chengalpet Government Hospital. There was also an awareness programme in Nenmeli, Dharmapuram village, where 200 students participated. Dengue awareness pamphlets were issued to the public.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/student/Maharishi-Organises-Dengue-Awareness-Rally/2014/11/03/article2504883.ece

Girish Chandra Varma shifted to hospital

TNN
January 9, 2014

BHOPAL: Girish Chandra Varma, chairman of Maharishi Vidya Mandir, has been shifted to jail hospital on Tuesday. Varma, who was accused of raping a former school teacher of Maharishi Vidya Mandir School, was arrested on December 29. He was sent to a judicial remand on December 1. The jail officials said he is diabetic and has a high blood pressure. He was kept under doctors' supervision, and was shifted in jail hospital to avoid his health from deteriorating further, officials added.

Meanwhile, the Audi car that was seized from his sprawling ashram in Bhojpur road after the arrest was sent to central forensic science laboratory, Bhopal on Wednesday. The woman had alleged that he raped her in the car once around a year back. Police said initially the samples collected from car were sent for forensic experts but they directed to send the car for its detailed examination.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Girish-Chandra-Varma-shifted-to-hospital/articleshow/28582487.cms

Jailed for rape, he is ‘sham’ to his accusers, ‘celibate’ to his followers

Express News Service
January 10, 2014

It has been a habit with Girish Chandra Varma to ring in the new year by observing maun vrat for the first three days, apparently to purify himself and enhance spiritual awareness. This New Year’s Eve, too, he was preparing to retreat to his sprawling ashram-cum-residence on the outskirts of Bhopal with his family and attendants. He did not, however, get to keep his annual tryst with spirituality and silence there. The police took him away on the charge of repeatedly raping a teacher in his employ.

Girish Chandra Varma's ashram-cum-home on the outskirts of Bhopal.

Varma, 53, who sports a flowing beard and white robes, is a nephew of late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, controls an empire, and commands a large following. He heads a chain of 145 schools called Maharishi Vidya Mandir, management and IT colleges and a Vedic university each in Jabalpur and Bilaspur. This is part of the legacy of the maharishi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation programme. After the maharishi’s death in 2008, his vast empire of educational and other institutions in India and abroad was shared among various members of the family.

Student ends life

TNN

April 15, 2014

HYDERABAD: An 18-year-old student preparing for Eamcet committed suicide at his college hostel on Monday.

The victim was identified as Vinay Kumar, son of Kotesh from Madugula in Mahbubnagar. Vinay had completed Intermediate from Chaitanya junior college at Kothapet recently and was undergoing coaching for Eamcet while staying at the hostel on the college premises.

On Sunday morning, friends of Vinay found him hanging from an iron rod in the bathroom of the hostel. "At 5.30 am, Vinay's friends noticed that the bathroom door was latched from inside. They grew suspicious. When the hostel administrators forcibly opened the door, Vinay was found hanging from the shower rod with a bed sheet," Saroornagar inspector B Naveen Reddy said.

There was no suicide note.

During preliminary probe, police found out that Vinay's fear of poor performance in the upcoming entrance test could be the reason behind the suicide. A case was registered under section 174 (Suspicious death) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

http://www.samachar.com/Student-ends-life-oepeLqcccec.htm

Vedic anushthan student ends life in hostel

TNN
April 12, 2014

BHOPAL: A 19-year-old student, Mukesh Pateria, an inmate of Maharishi Vidya Mandir hostel, committed suicide by hanging himself on Thursday evening. A case was registered at Misrod police station. Reasons for his taking the extreme step are not known as no suicide note was recovered.

Pateria was a student of vedic anushthan, police said. On Thursday, when Mukesh did not go for dinner his friends went to his room to find out reason for his skipping meals. When there was no answer despite repeated knocks on door, his friends broke it open. On entering the room, they found him hanging.

Later, police reached the spot and began investigation. Mukesh hailed from Sagar district and had been living in the hostel since 2010. Family members said they were not in a position to tell the reason that forced him to commit suicide.

His father reportedly told police that he had spoken with Mukesh on phone two days ago and he had sounded normal and cheerful then. Mukesh worked on a part-time basis and was getting Rs 4,000 per month.

Mukesh has two brothers. One of them is pursuing same course from a college in New Delhi, police said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Vedic-anushthan-student-ends-life-in-hostel/articleshow/33650791.cms

Two Maharishi boys among JEE toppers in Chennai

Adarsh Jain
TNN
May 4, 2014

CHENNAI: The JEE (main) results were released around midnight on Friday and Ravi Teja A V from Maharishi Vidya Mandir, with a score of 340/360, found himself among the toppers in the city.

However, despite the high score, the 17-year-old is not celebrating, saying his main goal is doing well in the JEE (advanced) exam on May 25. "I joined Maharishi with the intention of getting into an IIT," said Teja. School from 7am to 1pm and IIT coaching for three hours was his regular schedule. He revised the topics covered in the evening for at least four hours.

Asked about the new system for the entrance exam for IITs and NITs, Teja said, "I find this better as it gives you time to prepare for the advanced exam. Besides, it also makes the competition healthier."

Among the other toppers, Aravind S, also a Maharishi Vidya Mandir Student, who scored 316/360, also topped the all-India rankings in the engineering entrance conducted by Amrita University and notched up an all-India rank of 88 in Vellore Institute of Technology's entrance exam whose results were released a few days ago.

"I would like to pursue computer science or electronics and communication engineering," said Aravind. Despite spending more than two hours travelling from his home to school and back every day, Aravind said he managed to put in at least five hours a day preparing for the exam.

Tarun M of Cuddalore, who had moved to Chennai with his family four years ago as "I wanted exposure" managed a score of 307 despite not being able to attempt all questions in the mathematic paper. His target was to score at least 325 in the JEE (main), but he is now focusing on the JEE (advanced).

Aniket Muhrekar of Nagpur in Maharashtra, who scored 309, said, "The physics and mathematics papers were tricky. I made some small mistakes; else the score would have been better."

Desiring to pursue computer science from IIT Bombay or IIT Madras, he said he planned to complement his score by taking more tests. "Computers will be the strength of tomorrow. I want to be a part of the driving force," Aniket said. Aniket has qualified for the chemistry Olympiad this year and will leave for Mumbai for the orientation on May 27. "He is likely to represent India," his mother said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Two-Maharishi-boys-among-JEE-toppers-in-Chennai/articleshow/34615179.cms

Maharishi schools group Chief granted bail in rape charges

January 31, 2014
Indore News

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to Girish Chandra Varma, chairman of Maharishi Vidya Mandir schools group on personal surety of Rs 50000.

He was arrested on December 29 following charges that he sexually exploited and threatened a school teacher.

According to his counsel Manish Datt, police arrested and put Verma behind the bars based on complaint which was not substantiated with evidence and hence, urged the court to grant him bail.

He also said the allegation well over a decade and the action of the police also amounted to violation of Verma’s fundamental right.


The bench of Justice N K Gupta accepted the submissions and ordered Verma to be released.

The complainant has alleged that she was repeatedly molested by Varma for the past several years. She alleged that the accused used to insist her husband to take her along on tours to other cities and countries. Each time, adjoining rooms would be booked in a five star hotel.

Varma would then send her husband away on the pretext of some errands and rape her. She said that she did not protest earlier fearing social ostracism, but when it became too much for her to take; she shared her ordeal with her husband and decided to file a complaint.

Girish Chandra Varma shifted to hospital

Jan 9, 2014

BHOPAL: Girish Chandra Varma, chairman of Maharishi Vidya Mandir, has been shifted to jail hospital on Tuesday. Varma, who was accused of raping a former school teacher of Maharishi Vidya Mandir School, was arrested on December 29. He was sent to a judicial remand on December 1. The jail officials said he is diabetic and has a high blood pressure. He was kept under doctors' supervision, and was shifted in jail hospital to avoid his health from deteriorating further, officials added.

Meanwhile, the Audi car that was seized from his sprawling ashram in Bhojpur road after the arrest was sent to central forensic science laboratory, Bhopal on Wednesday. The woman had alleged that he raped her in the car once around a year back. Police said initially the samples collected from car were sent for forensic experts but they directed to send the car for its detailed examination.

Jailed for rape, he is ‘sham’ to his accusers, ‘celibate’ to his followers

The value of the properties owned by the group runs into hundreds of crores.

The Indian Express
January 10, 2014

Girish Chandra Varma and his ashram-cum-home
on the outskirts of Bhopal.

It has been a habit with Girish Chandra Varma to ring in the new year by observing maun vrat for the first three days, apparently to purify himself and enhance spiritual awareness. This New Year’s Eve, too, he was preparing to retreat to his sprawling ashram-cum-residence on the outskirts of Bhopal with his family and attendants. He did not, however, get to keep his annual tryst with spirituality and silence there. The police took him away on the charge of repeatedly raping a teacher in his employ.

Varma, 53, who sports a flowing beard and white robes, is a nephew of late Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, controls an empire, and commands a large following. He heads a chain of 145 schools called Maharishi Vidya Mandir, management and IT colleges and a Vedic university each in Jabalpur and Bilaspur. This is part of the legacy of the maharishi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation programme. After the maharishi’s death in 2008, his vast empire of educational and other institutions in India and abroad was shared among various members of the family.

Varma and his followers insist he is celibate but the teacher’s husband says it is a sham. “Even the maun vrat was a sham for the consumption of the outside world. Inside the ashram he would talk to us,” says the husband, who too worked with Varma and who alleges the latter sexually exploited him, too.
While he was in police custody, however, Varma did refuse to speak because of the maun vrat. Whenever he needed something, he would write the demand on a piece of paper, police sources say. He is now in judicial custody.

Now 41, the woman who has accused him of exploitation was first employed as a teacher a decade ago in a school in Arera Colony before being transferred to a school in Ratanpur. She has alleged that Varma forced her into sex through the decade. She says she had kept quiet because he had filmed her in the nude at a group institution in Noida. The police, however, are yet to find any video footage or photographs.

Her husband, 49, spent 27 years with the group’s institutions in various capacities, including that of Varma’s personal assistant. “My father had taught him music in a Jabalpur college and he was a family friend,” the husband says.
He alleges Varma sexually exploited him on a trip to the Netherlands in 1992, but he won’t press the charge because the case is old and he has no evidence. Varma, he alleges, would insist on taking his wife along and once took her by a chartered flight to Varanasi from Noida.

The couple have two daughters, aged 16 and seven.
The woman had approached the state commission for women in March last year but what led to Varma’s arrest last week was her threat to immolate herself.

Varma’s followers and employees call him brahmachari (celibate) or bhaiyyaji. They accuse the couple of trying to blackmail the group because they were thrown out of service. The husband lost his job in 2012 and the wife lost hers after filing the complaint.

“The group’s institutions employ nearly 5,000 women but no one else has levelled such allegations,” says V R Khare, a retired principal chief conservator of forests who has recently joined the group.

“I am celibate. God is watching,” Varma said in court. “The woman is working at someone’s behest. My enemies are backing her. Allegations were levelled against me in the past too but like always I will emerge unscathed.”
A judge refused him bail on the ground that he was likely to influence the probe. The clout he enjoys was on display during his time in police custody, when he was allowed various facilities.

The husband alleges the police made him and his wife give statements on several occasions, hoping to find some inconsistencies that would eventually weaken the case against Varma.

Nearly one lakh students study in schools under the group, besides 12,000 students who are imparted free training in Vedic rituals in gurukuls. There are thousands of teachers and employees. The value of the properties owned by the group runs into hundreds of crores.

Varma, who had joined his uncle about two decades ago, spent several years abroad. He moved to Bhopal when the group shifted its headquarters from Noida. The couple who have made the allegations had come to Bhopal before that.

Initially, land measuring 5.5 acres was purchased for Varma’s house in Chaand village on Bhojpur Road. Later, an adjacent five acres was added to the complex, which has an office, and space for havan and meditation. His supporters now perform havan every day for his release.

The police last week seized an Audi after the woman alleged she was forced into having sex inside it. Varma’s minders insist he rarely travelled in it, let alone commit a crime in it.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/jailed-for-rape-he-is-sham-to-his-accusers-celibate-to-his-followers/

Boy attempts suicide in Orai,alleges thrashing by class teacher, principal

July 8, 2010 

"A student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Inter College in Orai,Jalaun district,jumped from the third floor of the school building after an alleged thrashing by his Principal and class teacher on Wednesday morning."

A student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Inter College in Orai,Jalaun district,jumped from the third floor of the school building after an alleged thrashing by his Principal and class teacher on Wednesday morning.

Sumit Singh Chauhan (17) is a student of Class XII and is undergoing treatment at the Jalaun district hospital. Both his legs have been fractured.

Sumit’s father Ashok Kumar Chauhan,an engineer with the Public Works Department,held the school authorities responsible for the suicide attempt. “My son could not bear the humiliation before his friends,therefore he tried to end his life,” he said.

He has filed a complaint with the Jalaun Kotwali police station. But the police are yet to lodge an FIR against the school authorities. The charges levelled by Chauhan,they said,are still being investigated.

Sumit told mediapersons: “On Wednesday morning,my class teacher G P Rathod humiliated and thrashed me before my classmates for not paying fees on time.” He was then taken to the office of Principal A N Singh,where he was beaten up and humiliated again.

“Upset over the issue,I went to the third floor of the school building and jumped,” he added.

Superintendent of Police,Jalaun,Prem Gautam,however,said: “Prima facie it appears that the student was not thrashed or humiliated by the school staff.” Sumit’s classmates will be questioned about the incident,he said.

Sumit was poor in academics and had been absent for the past six days,Gautam said. “He had failed in the Class XI final exams and was admitted in Class XII only after a re-exam conducted in May.” Further,though the school re-opened after summer vacation on July 1,Sumit went for his classes only on Wednesday,he added.

On his part,Vice-Principal AK Katiyar denied that the student was thrashed by any staff member.

“Sumit’s school fees were not paid on time and the class teacher reminded him about the issue,but the allegations that he was thrashed are baseless,” Katiyar said.

He also pointed out that Sumit was poor in academics.

“He did not complete the homework assigned to him for the summer vacation and when the class teacher questioned him,he failed to give a satisfactory answer,” Katiyar added.

Following this,Sumit was taken to the office of the Principal. Katiyar maintained that the school administration was willing to bear Sumit’s medical expenses.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/boy-attempts-suicide-in-orai-alleges-thrashing-by-class-teacher-principal/