Cult leader who claimed to be 'an incarnation of God' is set to face case over 'rape of four female devotees' after appeal is thrown out

A cult leader who practised an obscure branch of Hinduism and allegedly raped four female devotees has failed an attempt to have the case thrown out.

Rajinder Kalia, 65, has been accused at the High Court of using his power and influence to groom worshippers as young as four at the Baba Balak Nath temple in Bell Green, Coventry, over three decades.

He allegedly indoctrinated his devotees to believe he was 'an incarnation of God and or the divine' and to see him as 'all-powerful, all seeing and all-knowing'.

He is also accused of instructing his followers to launch an 'onslaught of harassment' against any members of the temple who spoke out against him.

The four women seeking damages from Kalia are no longer members of the Coventry temple.

At a hearing last month, Kalia, who is represented by Sarah Crowther QC, sought to have the case thrown out arguing that the claim was 'abusive' and that the allegations were 'vague and unwieldy', The Times reported.

However, Deputy Master Grimshaw refused to dismiss the case saying he had 'serious reservations as to whether the claimants will succeed on the undue influence claims', but he was 'not satisfied that they are bound to fail and have no real prospect of success'.

The judge refused to issue a summary judgment and the alleged victims will submit an amended claim.

The case will now proceed in the High Court and the next hearing will be a case management hearing, due to be held on September 9.

Kalia denies all wrongdoing and says the allegations are 'baseless'.

The allegations surrounding the undetected cult were filed at the High Court in March last year by consultant solicitor at Peacock Law, Clare Kirby, it was previously reported.

At a hearing last month, Kalia, who is represented by Sarah Crowther QC, sought to have the case thrown out arguing that the claim was 'abusive' and that the allegations were 'vague and unwieldy'

They came after claims of rape were dismissed by the authorities in 2017 following insufficient evidence and Kalia, a former draper and clerk from India, returned to the temple.  

It was upon his return that the cult leader is alleged to have told worshippers to 'harass' those who spoke out against him, with one follower claiming she was threatened with acid attacks.

The tyres of another follower were allegedly slashed after she spoke out against the guru and a man and a woman, who worked as unpaid servants to Kalia, claim they lost £1.1 million to the preacher due to his hold over them.

According to the court claim, Kalia, whose followers travelled from as far as Glasgow to see him, is alleged to have claimed 'to be divine, to have a direct link to and regularly to speak with God, or manifestations of God' and is accused of using 'undue influence' over young girls for three decades.

The alleged victims will submit an amended claim. Kalia denies all wrongdoing and says the allegations are 'baseless'. Pictured: The Baba Balak Nath temple in Bell Green, Coventry

The cult leader would tell his followers, many of whom were vulnerable women, that those in the 'outside world are evil and to be avoided, and that his followers can and must trust only him' during his sermons and videos also show followers kissing and touching Kalia's feet as he sat on a 'throne'.   

Worshippers would also pay Kalia, who lived in a gated home with a swimming pool in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Rugy, Warwickshire, around £12,000 each to show their devotion after he persuaded them that he was a 'healer and miracle worker'.

Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor, told The Times: 'It's shocking that this is alleged to have happened in plain sight.

'There is undue deference paid towards people who are supposedly the most religious.

'People should not be prevented from speaking up because of the perceived power and control these individuals have.'