Prominent Padma Awardee Faces Explosive Allegations of Sexual Abuse, FIR Filed

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): A woman from West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has leveled grave allegations against Padma Shri awardee Swami Pradiptananda, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, accusing him of repeatedly raping her since 2013 on the false promise of securing her a school job.

The accused, Swami Pradiptananda, who is associated with the Beladanga branch of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, has denied the allegations outright, terming them a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing his reputation. “The truth will come out soon,” he asserted. Notably, Swami Pradiptananda was conferred with the Padma Award earlier this year.

According to police, the woman lodged an FIR against Kartik Maharaj at Nabagram Police Station in Murshidabad, following which an investigation has been launched.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she first met Swami Pradiptananda in 2012. He promised her a job at the ashram’s school and arranged for her stay in the school hostel in 2013. She alleged that during her stay, he took her daily to the fifth floor of the building and sexually assaulted her.

She further claimed that Swami Pradiptananda confined her in his ashram for five days, during which he raped her multiple times. When she became pregnant, he allegedly forced her to undergo an abortion at a private nursing home. The woman said she was threatened when she resisted and was then sent home, with a promise of monthly financial support.

The complainant added that while she waited in vain for the promised job, she continued to suffer abuse and was left mentally devastated. She recounted that on June 13, two men came to meet her, forced her into a vehicle, threatened her against contacting Swami Pradiptananda again, and later pushed her out of the moving car.

Reacting to the allegations, Kartik Maharaj dismissed them as baseless, claiming, “Women are respected like mothers in our ashram. The allegations are entirely unfounded, and the truth will emerge in due course.” Police said further investigation is underway.