Days after the Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted simultaneous raids at the properties of Kalki Bhagwan in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the self-styled godman issued a video statement, claiming that things were going on as usual and that he was not absconding, as some media outlets had reported.
Earlier this week, the I-T department said that searches and raids at the ashram, trust and the business premises of Kalki and his son, resulted in the detection of undisclosed income and seizure of gold, diamonds and foreign currencies valued at about Rs 500 crore.
"Firstly, we have not fled the country nor have we gone anywhere. We are in Nemam (an ashram set up by him in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur district) and we wish to inform you that we're in very good health and we're perfectly fine," Kalki said in the video.
"There are rumours that we have left the country and fled but we are in Nemam and operating out of here or Satyaloka (a school set up in Andhra's Chittoor district which claims to teach an 'alternative form of education') depending on where I'm required," he added.
Responding to media reports, Kalki said, "The government or the I-T department has not said that we have fled the country. The media is saying that. We will not abandon anything. Things will continue as usual. Things are continuing as usual, including activities in Nemam, Satyaloka and Ekam (a massive temple constructed by him, in Varadaiahpalem of Chittoor district in Andhra)."
Watch the video below.
Kalki Bhagwan breaks his silence after IT raids. Says he has not fled the country and activities at his ashram are continuing as usual.#ITRaids #WellnessGroup #OnenessUniversity pic.twitter.com/xeRnbis41C
— Shilpa Nair (@NairShilpa1308) October 22, 2019
The group which was founded by Kalki in the 1980s with "oneness" philosophy has diversified into several sectors including real estate and construction, in India and abroad. It is presently managed and controlled by Kalki and his son.
Born as V Vijaykumar in Tamil Nadu, the self-styled godman family moved to Chennai (then Madras) in 1955 with his family. After his education, Vijayakumar is reported to have worked briefly with the Life Insurance Corporation in the 1970s.
In 1984, Vijaykumar started a school in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. He built a second campus near Chennai at Somangalam and began conducting spiritual workshops. In 1999, he started building the Oneness University in Chittoor district.
Soon his workshops gained popularity and attracted many followers, including many high-profile politicians, businessmen and people from the film industry.
According to the I-T department, the group has been investing in a number of companies in India and abroad, including in tax havens. Some of these companies based in China, the US, Singapore, the UAE etc. are found to be receiving payments from foreign clients who attend various residential "wellness" courses offered in India.
The courses attract customers from abroad and the group earns substantial receipts in foreign exchange.
The I-T department said that instances have been found where the group is not accounting for the money received from overseas clients in foreign currency and then exchanging the same in the grey market. There were also allegations that the money was then used to invest in huge tracts of land in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
IANS inputs