‘Kalki Bhagwan’, the self-styled godman whose ashrams were raided by the Income Tax Department last week, has released a video along with his wife on Tuesday, 22 October, assuring his followers that he will continue to help them while not mentioning even a word about the tax raids.
“We would like to thank all our devotees who have stood by us and have sent wonderful messages on social media. Firstly, we have not fled the country, nor have we gone anywhere. We are perfectly fine,” he said.
His wife sits alongside him in the entire video but doesn’t say any word. According to The News Minute, his real name is Vijay Kumar Naidu.
In the video Kalki stated that he is still in his Nemam ashram in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, a string of 40 premises connected to a conglomerate of trusts and companies founded by the spiritual guru who ran “wellness courses” were searched by the Income Tax Department on Friday.
He said, “The government or the IT Department is not saying that we have fled the country, it’s only the media which is saying this.”
Addressing the alleged concern among his followers, he said, “Thousands of my devotees in India and abroad are depend on us, we remember you. We have become more powerful and we are still your friends. I assure you we will continue helping you in all your problems.”
What Were IT Raids About?
As curtains came down on the nearly week-long searches in multiple premises linked to the wellness guru, IT Department sources said the 'undisclosed' income detected could exceed Rs 600 crore and the self-styled godman may be summoned for questioning.
The trusts and companies led by the spiritual guru are also likely to face probe under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, the sources said on Tuesday.
Earlier, on Friday, undisclosed income of more than Rs 500 crore was discovered. During the six-day long searches, which ended on Monday, the group was found to have invested in firms in the country and abroad, including in tax havens, they claimed.
A total of Rs 43.9 crore in cash and US currency worth Rs 18 crore was seized and the total value of seizure is about Rs 93 crore, which includes gold and diamonds, a tax department official release said.
The entities founded by the guru, who propounded “oneness philosophy” offered “wellness courses” and training programmes in philosophy and spirituality at various sprawling residential campuses at Varadaiahpalem, Chennai and Bengaluru.
The courses attract residential customers from abroad and the group earns substantial receipts in foreign exchange, the tax department had said.
(With inputs from ANI, PT, The News Minute)
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