Self-styled yoga guru Kanti Agarwal, alias Yogi Baba, was arrested and sent to judicial custody after police raided his under-construction Ashram in Dongargarh and seized nearly 1.9 kg of cannabis, sex toys, and other objectionable material. The Ashram, built on a 39-acre farmhouse, was allegedly a front for a network of drug use and immoral activities.
Agarwal, originally from Dongargarh and educated up to Class 12, had left his hometown two decades ago. He returned three months ago after running a yoga resort in Goa for several years, claiming to have visited over 100 countries and portraying himself as a renowned spiritual figure to Indian and foreign disciples.
Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg confirmed that Agarwal was arrested under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The police are also investigating complaints that minors and youth, lured by the promise of meditation and peace sessions, were exposed to drug use and other unlawful activities at the site.
“He was reportedly involved in criminal activities in Goa, and we are coordinating with Goa Police to verify his past. He is linked to around a dozen NGOs and received foreign funding. We’re investigating his foreign links, property records, and NGO dealings,” SP Garg told the media.
