Sultanpur's Swami Gyaneshwar - alias Baba Alak Das ... is on the run along with four of women "disciples" ... In fact, Swami Gyaneshwar's history sheet is a long one. The first murder case against him was registered in 1983 in connection with the killing of then District Magistrate of Gopalganj, M P N Sharma, who is said to have incurred his wrath for having raided his Bihar ashram from where more than 30 girls were rescued.

(He is now) wanted in connection with the January 21 murder of former Congress MLA Indrabhad Singh in Sultanpur. The police have ... recovered documents revealing his links with smugglers and obscene material pointing to immoral activities.

... In Ayodhya, there are at least 86 sadhus and mahants with criminal records. The Ramjanmabhoomi police station has criminal records of eight corrupt sadhus, while the Ayodhya police station lists 78 sadhus as criminals. While some have been booked under the Gangster Act, Arms Act and UP Goonda Act, many others have been charged with murder, rioting and attempt to murder.

For instance, Baba Prahalad Das, who lives in Hanuman Garhi, is an accused in two murder and fourattempt-to-murder cases. He has had the Gangster and Goonda acts slapped on him and has been charged thrice for rioting. Baba Jagdish Das has six criminal cases pending against him, while Swami Upendra Das of Nishad Temple has seven.

Another sant in saffron, Baba Virendra, has fled his Farrukhabad ashram when ... some of his women disciples complained of sexually exploitation ... (Source: Amit Sharma in The Indian Express, January 30, 1999)