‘Online sermons, drugged prasad, rape, blackmail’: How IIT graduate trapped young women at Mathura ashram

AGRA: An IIT Roorkee graduate who allegedly reinvented himself as a spiritual guru is accused of using religious discourses, promises of personal growth and career guidance, and even "drugged prasad" to target educated young women before sexually exploiting and blackmailing them, police said.The accused, 29-year-old Abhishek Mishra, who called himself Adikarta Narayan Das, was arrested from his ashram-like residence in Radha Kund on Monday. Police also rescued two women and a man from the premises.The case surfaced after a 22-year-old BSc Nursing student from Chhattisgarh filed a complaint at Govardhan police station on May 25. According to the FIR, Mishra offered her milk as "prasad" during a visit. The woman alleged that the drink contained an intoxicating substance, causing her to lose consciousness.She told police that Mishra raped her while she was unconscious and recorded obscene photographs and videos. Investigators say he later used the material to threaten her and allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh, warning that the videos would be circulated if she failed to pay.Deputy superintendent of police Anil Kumar Singh said the woman had travelled to Mathura to visit her elder sister, who was undergoing training with an oil PSU and was associated with Mishra's religious group.Investigators believe the accused built a following through YouTube sermons and social media platforms, projecting himself as a spiritual guide. Police suspect he deliberately sought out educated women, including engineers and professionals working in reputed companies, offering spiritual counselling and mentorship before allegedly exploiting them.During the investigation, police recovered more than a dozen obscene photographs involving different men and women from Mishra's mobile phone, raising concerns that there could be more victims.During questioning, Mishra reportedly told police that he graduated in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and previously worked in the private sector with an annual salary package of around Rs 20 lakh before moving to Mathura. He allegedly began conducting religious activities from rented accommodation before purchasing a house in Radha Kund and establishing his spiritual network.Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat said the accused has been sent to jail and a detailed investigation is underway to identify other possible victims and examine the full extent of his activities.