Self-styling themselves as ‘Godman,’ many ‘babas’ have been using this garb as a mask to hide their deeds. After Ram Rahim’s conviction comes yet another incident where a woman from Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh has accused Phalahari baba of Alwar in Rajasthan of allegedly raping her on August 7.

The woman said in her complaint that Kaushalendra Phalahari Maharaj, 70, also threatened her of dire consequences if she reports the matter to police.

Initially reluctant to level charges against ‘Falahari Baba,’ the victim’s family broke their silence after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction and lodged a complaint,  following which the investigating officer reached Alwar on Wednesday. But as soon as ‘Baba’ got wind of this, he got himself admitted into a hospital, claiming to be suffering from an infection in his intestine.

“Our team raided the ashram, but the godman was not there. He is in a private hospital where our men are posted waiting for his discharge. We are in touch with the doctors about his health condition,” Rahul Prakash, Superintendent of Police, Alwar, said.

And many of his devotees were quick to defend their idol’s honor. “Babaji is currently hospitalized. There is a conspiracy to defame saints,” said a close aide of baba. Surdarshanacharya Maharaj, a follower of Baba, said, “I am not aware of any such case. Maharaj is ailing and is not in a position to talk.”

As per the FIR filed by the victim, her family had been followers of Phalahari Baba for 15 long years and on the day of the incident, she had visited his ashram to offer him her first salary from her internship, following which he invited her to stay for the night in the ashram. Finding nothing suspicious in the offer by a man her family worshipped, she accepted. Later that night he invited her to his room and raped her.

“The `godman’ allegedly threatened the rape survivor, saying his followers were politicians and top cops,” said a senior officer.

There has been an alarming increase in the appearance of such self-proclaimed Babas, and while some may be genuine, cases like Gurmeet Ram Rahim force us to re-evaluate our faith.