‘God on earth’ took no courses to become Hindu priest
A self-styled ‘God on earth’ being sued for £8m by ex-disciples admitted he did not take any courses to become a Hindu priest.
Rajinder Kalia, 68, is accused of grooming members of his temple while subjecting women and underage girls to sexual abuse.
Mr Kalia, head priest at the Sidh Baba Balak Nath Ji Society of Coventry, is facing a civil hearing at the High Court involving multiple alleged victims seeking compensation.
He disputes the claims against him saying they are part of a financially motivated conspiracy.
Four women had claimed they were sexually abused by him while three more alleged they were financially exploited.
Mr Justice Martin Spencer struck out the cases of two of the claimants last week.
Mr Kalia denies any wrongdoing and has suggested that the claimants had come together to make a ‘fundamentally dishonest’ attempt to get money out of him.
He gave evidence at the High Court for the first time today (tues) wearing a black suit with a pink shirt and purple tinted glasses.
Aided by a Punjabi interpreter Mr Kalia confirmed he was born on 9 November 1955 and came to the UK in 1977.
He opened the temple in Coventry in 1986.
‘The temple in Coventry was set up by you wasn’t it?’, asked Mark Jones, who is representing the claimants.
‘What is wrong with setting it up?’, said Kalia.
Mr Jones said: ‘I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. It is a simple fact that you were the one who set it up.’
Mr Kalia replied: ‘Yes I did.’
Asked if he had told his followers that he shared a birthday with the Hindu deity Baba Balak Nath, he replied: ‘I don’t need to say that. It is the same date people know it themselves.’
He admitted he took no educational course to become a Hindu priest.
‘For feelings there is no course.’
Mr Jones asked: ‘Your teachings are all based on your feelings?’
Mr Kalia replied: ‘Yes, that is my feeling.’
Asked if his disciples read any holy texts or scripts Mr Kalia replied ‘It is not necessary that they will read books.’
Mr Jones asked the religious leader about pictures hung on the wall in the temple in Coventry.
One apparently shows Baba Balak Nath sending a beam of light towards Mr Kalia’s head.
Mr Jones asked: ‘Do you agree that the purpose of this circle of light is to present you with an air of spirituality?’
Mr Kalia replied: ‘Yes’
Another picture painted on the wall of the temple depicts Mr Kalia squeezing milk and blood out of two chapatis.
This is a reference to the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, who is also said to have squeezed milk and blood from two chapatis.
Mr Jones said: ‘No one would have painted that picture of you on the wall without you agreeing.’
Mr Kalia replied: ‘Anyone can come and donate.’
He told the hearing that he never hung any of the pictures in the temple.
Mr Jones asked: ‘The purpose of the pictures is to show you as being close to God, is that right?’
Mr Kalia replied: ‘How can I discuss if other people have made it. I haven’t made it.’
The hearing continues.
mfl
ends
