The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government not to take any coercive action for now against Swami Pradiptananda, a monk and Padma Shri awardee in 2025, who is facing rape allegations, pending further hearing. The court has also allowed an in-camera hearing on the matter, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Swami Pradiptananda, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, heads the Beldanga ashram of Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Murshidabad district. Last week, a woman from the same district filed an FIR at Lalbagh police station, alleging that the monk raped her repeatedly between 2012 and 2019 under the pretext of offering a job and forced her to undergo an abortion in 2013. She further claimed that she was threatened on June 13, a day after a phone conversation with the monk.
After skipping a police summon, the monk approached the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday seeking to quash the FIR. A single bench of Justice Jay Sengupta heard the petition on Wednesday and directed that no immediate action be taken until the court hears the case.
“The court has accepted our prayer for protection and scheduled an in-camera hearing,” said advocate Koustav Bagchi, who is representing the monk.
However, the request for an in-camera hearing was opposed by advocate Sandipan Ganguly, appearing for the complainant. Citing the example of Gujarat-based godman Asaram Bapu, Ganguly argued that accused religious figures have been tried in open court in the past. The bench reportedly expressed surprise that the complaint was filed more than a decade after the alleged incidents began.
The case has also triggered political friction. The monk, who has previously appeared publicly with senior BJP leaders including Suvendu Adhikari, was accused by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections of assisting the BJP. Swami Pradiptananda had issued a legal notice to Banerjee demanding an apology, which she refused.
While the ruling Trinamool Congress has renewed its criticism of the monk following the court petition, BJP leaders allege the charges are politically motivated and part of a TMC ploy to malign their supporters.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 4, to be held in-camera.
