A 28-year-old security guard in Nashik, Maharashtra, has accused a self-styled godman, Maheshgiri Baba (alias Mahesh Dilip Kakde), of rape and intimidation under the guise of “spiritual healing.” The survivor, who sought help for mental distress, was allegedly subjected to sexual assault and threatened with “divine consequences” and obscene photographs.
Following her complaint, the Lasalgaon Police registered a case under the Maharashtra Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. While the accused is currently under investigation, this case highlights a disturbing trend of “Bhondu Babas” exploiting vulnerable individuals in the region.
The Facade of Healing and “Divine” Threats
The survivor’s ordeal began when her parents, concerned about her mental health and family issues, took her to Maheshgiri Baba’s “darbar” at Dharangaon (Khadak). Exploiting their faith, Kakde claimed the woman was possessed by spirits and prescribed weekly prayers.
According to the police complaint, the exploitation escalated from obscene messages to a forced encounter at a lodge in August 2024. When the survivor resisted, the accused reportedly brandished rudraksha beads, claiming his “spiritual powers” would make resistance futile.
“He threatened me saying he had divine power and that I would be unable to resist anything,” the survivor stated in her complaint. The accused further intimidated her by taking nude photographs and deleting digital evidence from her phone to ensure her silence.
A Pattern of Exploitation in Nashik
This incident is not an isolated case but follows a massive controversy involving another Nashik-based godman, Ashok Kharat, who was recently arrested for similar offences involving multiple women. In the current case, the survivor remained silent for months due to fear until she found support from the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANiS), an anti-superstition organisation that counselled her to approach the authorities.
An official from the Lasalgaon police station confirmed that the case (CR No. 251/2026) includes charges of rape and violations of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. This law was specifically designed to protect citizens from such predatory “spiritual” practitioners.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that faith should be a source of strength, not a tool for exploitation. It is deeply harrowing to see the vulnerable those seeking mental and emotional peace being preyed upon by individuals hiding behind the garb of divinity.
True spirituality is rooted in empathy, kindness, and the protection of the weak, yet “Bhondu Babas” like Maheshgiri continue to weaponise superstition to silence and violate women. We commend the survivor’s immense courage and the vital role played by anti-superstition activists in bringing this to light.
As a society, we must transition from blind faith to scientific temper and rational thought to ensure that no one else is coerced into silence by the threat of “divine wrath.”
