Pune – Shocking allegations have surfaced against self-styled godman Prasad Baba, alias Prasad Tamdar, who is accused of exploiting the blind faith of his devotees to defraud them and subject them to mental and sexual abuse. Following a complaint filed by a young male devotee at his ashram in Sus, Pune, 15 more victims have come forward, accusing Prasad Baba of similar sexual misconduct.

Tech-enabled Deceit

According to details provided by the police, Prasad Baba would collect devotees’ mobile phones under the pretext of “removing planetary obstacles.” He would ask them to download a compass app, but instead secretly install AirDroid Kid—an app originally designed for parents to monitor their children’s phone activity.

Through this app, Baba gained full remote access to the victims’ phones—camera, location, photos, chats, and calls—enabling him to collect detailed personal information. When he later revealed intimate facts about the devotees, they believed he had divine powers, such as spiritual visions, and that he could “see” what they wore or where they went. This led many young men to place complete trust in him and willingly visit his ashram.

Sexual Abuse Disguised as Rituals

To gain total psychological control, Prasad Baba reportedly instructed devotees to sleep only three hours over two days. He would then summon them to the ashram, ask them to disrobe and sleep with only a shawl as part of a supposed “occult ritual.” While the victims were asleep, he allegedly sexually assaulted them. Later, he would convince them that he had taken on all their suffering, coercing them into maintaining a sexual relationship under the guise of spiritual healing.

Popular Social Media Persona

Prasad Baba had over 150,000 followers on Instagram, where he frequently posted videos of himself dancing with female devotees or engaging with followers at the ashram. Many people were drawn in by his online persona and media presence. However, the disturbing truth now emerging has sparked widespread outrage.

A Carefully Crafted Deception

The ashram in Sus was founded by Prasad’s father a few years ago, following claims of divine visions. Prasad, who reportedly studied up to Chartered Accountancy, assumed the role of ‘Baba’ in 2022. Preliminary investigations suggest his spiritual activities were primarily a front for extorting money and establishing sexual relationships with followers.

Police Investigation Underway

The police have taken the allegations seriously and launched a full-scale investigation. Authorities believe more victims may come forward in the coming days. They have appealed to others who may have suffered abuse to step forward and file complaints.

Faith Exploited in the Age of Technology

Even today, people facing personal crises continue to fall prey to blind faith. In earlier times, fraudulent godmen used incense and rituals to deceive; today, they exploit technology. When educated individuals seek spiritual shortcuts to solve personal problems, conmen like Prasad Baba emerge—deceiving people under the cloak of divinity and damaging society in the process.