‘Living god’ from Coventry ‘used disciple’s daughters for sex’, court hears
Four women have claimed they were sexually abused by him, with three more alleging they were financially exploited.
A religious leader who claimed to be a ‘living god’ used one of his disciple’s daughters for sex and treated them as slaves, a court heard.
Rajinder Kalia, who is head priest at a temple in Coventry, has been accused of grooming members of his temple to believe he is ‘God’s incarnation’ while abusing young girls.
Four women have claimed they were sexually abused by him, with three more alleging they were financially exploited.
The 68-year-old, who is head priest at a temple in Coventry, is disputing the claims against him saying they are part of a financially motivated conspiracy.
He is head of the Sidh Baba Balak Nath Ji Society of Coventry, a religious organisation which professes the founding principles of the Hindu religion.
Former follower Sukhdev Kaur, along with daughters Mandeep and Harprit Dilbeher, have waived their anonymity in the case.
Ms Kaur told the court: ‘I came to explain to the judge what [Kalia] has done to my two daughters. He assaulted them and had sex with my daughters.
‘He made us slaves. We were slaves to him. We were nothing. He used my daughters for sex. He assaulted them without asking them.
‘I trusted him. I didn’t think he would do such a thing.’
Sarah Crowther, KC, representing Mr Kalia, said Mandeep had said in her witness statement that she had not gone to the temple very often after she reached the age of ten.
Ms Kaur replied: ‘She did go with me when she was she was young.
‘When she was older that was her choice.’
Ms Kaur claims the Hindu priest also took advantage of her financially as she paid him a total of £338,000 in donations and for him to visit to India.
‘He was our guru. We have to go through him to connect with God.’
One alleged victim claims to have been sexually abused more than 1,320 times over two decades, and another said she suffered abuse as a child which made her fail her school exams.
A third said her virginity was taken in a rape in a Birmingham hotel and the fourth claims to have been hugged and kissed inappropriately when she was as young as four, before having her virginity taken as a young adult.
Ms Kaur claimed Mr Kalia had told them ‘not to rely on family’ and ordered temple-goers not to communicate with each other.
She told the court she never spoke about Mr Kalia with her daughters.
‘We would talk to each other about other things but not about him.
‘We were not allowed to talk at all. He has his own rules. No one can do anything without his permission.’
Ms Crowther pointed out that there had been singing and dancing at the temple.
Ms Kaur replied: ‘People would sing and dance on their own but not communicate with each other.’
Ms Kaur claims the Hindu priest also took advantage of her financially as she paid him a total of £338,000 in donations and for him to visit to India.
‘He was our guru. We have to go through him to connect with God.’
Ms Crowther told her: ‘He said donate what you can afford. Not go into debt… He didn’t have to say it’.
The hearing continues.
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