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| {{Infobox Hindu leader | {{Infobox Hindu leader | ||
| |name = Nirmal Baba |
|name = Nirmal Baba | ||
| |image = |
|image =] | ||
| |image_size = | |image_size = 44 KB | ||
| |alt = Nirmal Baba | |alt = Nirmal Baba | ||
| |caption = | |caption = | ||
| |birth_date = |
|birth_date = 1952 | ||
| |birth_place = ], ] | |birth_place = ], ] | ||
| |birth_name = |
|birth_name = Nirmaljeet Singh Narula | ||
| |Current Place = ], ] | |Current Place = ], ] | ||
| |death_date = | |death_date = | ||
| |death_place = | |death_place = | ||
| |guru = | |guru = | ||
| |philosophy = | |||
| |philosophy = Revelation of real ways of Kripa i.e. benediction (sans ritualism and fanaticism); respect for all faiths and significance and sanctity of model conduct | |||
| |honors = | |honors = | ||
| |Literary works = | |Literary works = | ||
| |quote = |
|quote = | ||
| |footnotes = | |footnotes = | ||
| |website = http://nirmalbaba.com/ | |website = http://nirmalbaba.com/ | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ⚫ | '''Nirmaljeet Singh Narula''' or '''Nirmal Baba''' is a controversial self proclaimed ] and "spiritual leader" known for his public discourses and has followers in some parts of India and Nepal. Nirmal Baba alias Nirmaljeet Singh Narula became controversial and came to limelight following several allegations of cheating and fraud against him in several states.<ref name="nirmalfraudup">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Cheating--fraud-cases-against-Nirmal-Baba-in-UP/938268/p|title=Cheating, fraud cases against Nirmal Baba in UP|date=2012-04-18|publisher=]|accessdate=26 April 2012|location=Ghaziabad}}</ref> | ||
| '''Nirmal Baba Jee''' is a ], "spiritual leader", is a holly figure from India who has been imparting wisdom and knowledge since 1996-97, about the real, original and somewhat forgotten ways of attaining Kripa i.e. blessings and benediction of one's deity, whichever be one's faith. Its this Kripa that grants the devotees wealth, health, good fortune and spiritual upliftment, Baba shows the way. In absence of an enlightened guide or guru, these original teachings got smeared heavily by ritualism and fanaticism, Baba is trying to rectify the situation. | |||
| More recently Baba gained popularity for his public discourses, recordings of which were telecast on about 40 channels for 6 years. Baba has about 10 million followers spread across Indian subcontinent and overseas. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| Nirmal Baba, former name Nirmaljit Singh Nirula, was born |
Nirmal Baba, former name Nirmaljit Singh Nirula, was born in 1952 in ], near ] Punjab, is the youngest of two brothers and three sisters.<ref name=punjab>{{Cite news|title=Nirmal Baba self proclaimed guru faces more trouble| url=http://punjabnewsline.com/content/nirmal-baba-self-proclaimed-guru-faces-more-trouble-pil-filed-and-investigation-ordered}}</ref> His brother Manjit | ||
| Singh lives in ]. Among his three sisters, eldest is dead, one of them is married to former ] assembly speaker and BJP MP Inder Singh Namdhari, while the third sister lives in Delhi. In 1970, after the murder of his father, Nirmaljit Singh moved to Daltonganj, Jharkhand in 1970. | Singh lives in ]. Among his three sisters, eldest is dead, one of them is married to former ] assembly speaker and BJP MP Inder Singh Namdhari, while the third sister lives in Delhi. In 1970, after the murder of his father, Nirmaljit Singh moved to Daltonganj, Jharkhand in 1970. | ||
| Nirmaljit Singh began his brick kiln business in 1981. However, he suffered losses and following this, he started a cloth shop but again he failed in his venture.<ref>{{cite web|title=STAR News Exclusive: Hard facts about Nirmal Baba|url=http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34-more/28574-star-news-exclusive-hard-facts-about-nirmal-baba|publisher=Star News|accessdate=18 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| == |
==Nirmal Darbar== | ||
| ''Nirmal Darbar'' used to be the name of the paid televised show corresponding to each public meeting of Baba. This show was broadcast by approximately 40 different channels including ], ], ], ] and more.<ref name=web>{{cite web|title=How Nirmal Baba rose to popularity on the web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-plotting-nirmal-babas-rise-on-the-web-3108745.html?HF-2=|publisher=Daily Bhaskar.com|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref> During these ''Darbars'', he used to make public appearances and conversed with aggrieved devotees who usually narrated their personal, social or financial worries to him. He then, used to advise them on those issues publicly and suggested "solutions". All the ''Samagam'' meetings had tickets starting from {{INR convert|2000}}. | |||
| As described in Indian scriptures, the true Gurus would guide their disciples and society in general about the ideal conduct, and solutions to problems. In absence of these Gurus, some people appropriated these teachings and ritualized them. People didn't know any better than to follow these rituals more often than not out of context and without any faith. When performed this way without any understanding as to what they meant or why they were recommended in the first place, these rituals became source of problems as there was no faith involved. These rituals also took faith, common sense away from the act of performing prayers, and made them too complex. There came a point where an innocent person in problem would follow these rituals without thinking about right or wrong, that would only further and prolong his misfortune. Long hours, odd hours, for chanting mantras, peculiar tasks, peculiar things to wear etc. that's ritualism at its worst. Then people often complain that they pray as much and do as much as they might but God wouldn't listen. In the gatherings where Baba address people He shows people how divine powers work, what they expect of people and why ritualism is a waste of time and effort which only produces negative results. These negatives are at times blamed on the deities themselves by people. Baba says, simple common sense rules of ideal conduct, where one is mindful to others's feelings, is always aware of divine blessings, and has faith, is what actually gets one Kripa (divine benediction). His teachings are very much like those of ]. Sai Baba used to say "Sabka Maalik Aik" (there is but one lord for all), and Sai Baba didn't differentiate between followers of different religions. Nirmal Baba too says that all deities are essentially representing but one God, and regardless of one's religion, one must pay respect to them all. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Allegations of fraud== | ||
| == Nirmal Darbaar== | |||
| ⚫ | "Nirmal Darbar" a spiritual program run by Nirmal Baba came under media and legal attacks because of its allegedly fraudulent activities and for charging exorbitant sums of money from people claiming to solve their problems with the help of self proclaimed "divine powers" and solutions through eating certain things like rabdi, pani-puri etc.<ref name=disciple_registered>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's disciple registered complaint in court; Hearing on 1st May|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-nirmal-babas-disciple-registered-complaint-in-court-hearing-on-1st-may-3123890.html|accessdate=7 May 2012|newspaper=DailyBhaskar.com|date=17 April 2012}}</ref> Soon after the media criticism, his ] page was flooded with comments from supporters and fans. The news site '']'' has alleged that many of these Facebook profiles are fake.<ref name=nirmal>{{cite news|title=More disclosures put Nirmal Baba in tight spot|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/more-disclosures-put-nirmal-baba-in-tight-spot_769932.html|accessdate=14 April 2012|newspaper=Zee news}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Selling spirituality: 'Fraud' Nirmal Baba has fake followers too|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-fraud-nirmal-baba-has-fake-followers-too-3125750.html|accessdate=17 April 2012|newspaper=Daily Bhaskar|date=17 April 2012}}</ref> During further investigations, as revealed on 15 April 2012, Nirmal Baba had invested the donations collected in his ''samagam'' and ''daswant'' into buying a hotel worth {{INR convert|30|c}} in ] area of ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nirmal Baba used donations to buy hotel |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/nirmal-baba-used-donations-to-buy-hotel_770086.html|publisher=Zee news|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref> Nirmal Baba was involved in mining of ] from Jyoti Hill, ] in 1998-1999.<ref>{{cite news|title='Nirmal Baba fled without paying house rent'|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/nirmal-baba-fled-without-paying-house-rent_770236.html|accessdate=16 April 2012|newspaper=Prabhat Khabar}}</ref> | ||
| Baba occasionally organised gatherings for his followers. In these gatherings people can share their experiences, listen to Baba's teachings, and few can ask questions that may be personal in nature or for general public. These gatherings are called Samaagam or Darbaar. Recordings of these Samaagams were broadcast by approximately 40 different channels including ], ], ], ] and more for 6 years, till first quarter of 2012.<ref name=web>{{cite web|title=How Nirmal Baba rose to popularity on the web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-plotting-nirmal-babas-rise-on-the-web-3108745.html?HF-2=|publisher=Daily Bhaskar.com|accessdate=15 April 2012}}</ref> ''Samagam'' have entry by ticket starting from {{INR convert|2000}}. To get blessings or to get their problems resolved devotees have to only follow Baba's teachings, so attending these Samaagams is incidental and not a requirement. People coming to these Samaagams represent a small set of actual strength of devotees, who have never met Baba but get their problems rectified just by following his simple teachings. | |||
| ⚫ | A couple from Ludhiana, Baba's home town, also filed a police complaint against him for duping them financially.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nirmal Baba cheated on us: couple from Ludhiana|url=http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34-more/28651-Nirmal%20Baba%20cheated%20us:%20Ludhiana%20couple|publisher=Star News|accessdate=14 April 2012}}</ref> On April 16, 2012, the couple and three others were arrested for using forgery to steal {{INR convert|1.7|c}} from Baba.<ref name=punjab /><ref>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's disciples booked for forgery|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Nirmal-Babas-disciples-booked-for-forgery/articleshow/12688532.cms|accessdate=17 April 2012|newspaper=Times of India|date=17 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Case lodged against Nirmal Baba disciples for forgery|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/case-lodged-against-nirmal-baba-disciples-for-forgery/986447.html|accessdate=17 April 2012|newspaper=IBN Live|date=April 16, 2012}}</ref> | ||
| ==Third Eye== | |||
| Baba is blessed with divine powers, with which He is able to 'see' what a person is thinking or what the deities want of that person. This power is referred to as 'Third Eye of Nirmal Baba' by his followers. | |||
| === Reactions === | |||
| ==Kripa is Very Real== | |||
| In Samaagams or Darbaars, people share with Baba their problems, which Baba solves using His divine powers of perception. He is able to 'see' the 'deficits' as in mistakes the person might have made in his way of praying or in life and also relieves him of unnecessary ritual if he is caught in any. In these gatherings followers throng to share their experiences which vary from educational, professional, business success, to health, supernatural, mental, issues resolutions. Baba often says that divine powers are called just that for they are not fortune tellers but fortune makers and regardless of what one has been told by his doctors, astrologers or people he sees as his gurus about his impending misfortunes, once one starts believing in diving powers all problems get resolved for sure, and it doesn't take any time either, if the devotee keeps faith. | |||
| ==Some of the general instructions or teachings for all== | |||
| ] | |||
| * All religions talk about but One God. Stick to your religion and faith, Kripa is going to be bestowed upon you by the faith of you and your ancestors, switching of religion or faiths is an act of betrayal.</br> | |||
| * Follow your faith, and have respect for other faiths for all talk about but One God.</br> | |||
| * Don't be a miser when it comes to spending on yourself or on your family. If you unnecessarily cut back on spending, you'd be left with nothing to spend. </br> | |||
| * Eat what you want to eat, and not just eye it. What you are not gonna eat, don't eye it either. E.g. if you don't want to drink wine don't be enamored by it either, for that's half as equivalent to drinking it. </br> | |||
| * If you are not going to eat or drink a certain food item (it may be because your religion or belief system doesn't allow it), don't comment on it when others have it. Disrespect to food items is an anathema.</br> | |||
| * Wear what you want to wear, buy the phone you always wanted to buy, unnecessarily holding back on your legitimate desires is disagreeable to the Almighty.</br> | |||
| * If He has granted you wealth, being a skinflint is disrespect to His grace. </br> | |||
| * If you ever wish for a thing and you get money granted to you to buy that thing, buy that thing only, as buying something else or saving that money would eventually lead to that money getting lost. Don't be overtly clever with His ways and grace. If He has bestowed upon you His Kripa, don't manage it.</br> | |||
| * Devotees are not required to get match making or readings of any kind done before marriage. Don't loose a potentially good partner just because his/her chart is a mismatch, or because of any dosha. ], ] and any other so called doshas are not to be worried about by devotees. | |||
| * One must keep a place of worshiping in one's house, temples/altars, according to your faith, but keep it compact. It is as much required as you require a place to live yourself. </br> | |||
| * Don't bother about any direction related considerations, like those in Vaastu Shastra. Only considerations are that they be not under stairs, in kitchen or adjacent to bathrooms or toilets. </br> | |||
| * Size doesn't matter, what matters is that everything in that place of worship has been organized and bought by you yourself.</br> | |||
| * Keep your prayers simple, never ritualize them. Almighty only looks for faith.</br> | |||
| * Never keep charms, yantras, amulets etc in your place of worship or with yourself, for its only your deity and reading of your holy scriptures, ], ], ] etc. that can give Kripa and not these tricks.</br> | |||
| * Stay away from astrologers, clairvoyants, sooth sayers, occult practitioners, you don't need to pay attention to their threat tactics. Have faith in your simple prayers. Almighty looks only for faith, He cant be tricked into giving you Kripa.</br> | |||
| * Its absurd that these people would ask a penniless needy to pay upfront heavily for occult practices. God doesn't operate that way. God is considerate to all your needs, expressed and unexpressed.</br> | |||
| '''The last 8 tenets''' became a bone of contention between Baba and astrologers, Lal Kitab/occult practitioners, clairvoyants in India and abroad and became the foundation of the smear campaign against Baba</br> | |||
| * God is fortune maker, not fortune teller. | |||
| * Baba says, don't commit any act of transgression, bribery, don't abuse positions of power, don't eye another's property, don't ever be jealous, you don't need to, for He has treasures for everyone. You live an honest and pious life, do your work with commitment, respect your elders and I assure you you would be taken care of.</br> | |||
| * Almighty knows when you need money, when you need a job, when you wanna get married. He is always on time in granting you your wishes. He knows too the things that even you don't know you'd need in future.</br> | |||
| * '''Just be true on his simple tests of honesty and following the teachings exactly and you'd always be in His refuge'''</br> | |||
| * '''In this time and era where the popular perception is that one has to be clever and cunning to make it big, Baba says you follow the teaching and you'd discover that Almighty prevails even today and your success would surprise even yourself. </br>''' | |||
| * '''Never think small, think big'''</br> | |||
| * But be a beggar before Almighty, and He'd grant you everything, if, however, you appear before Him with a stiff spine, He'd let you have your ego, but you'd be left only with that to hold on to.</br> | |||
| * Don't involve yourself in wrongful ways of earnings for you don't have to. Trust your deity to give you all the wealth you want and more.</br> | |||
| * Men are advised to keep a good quality black wallet (bought by oneself, not gifted by someone else) and keep little, not much money in it. Rest of the money should be kept in the smaller hidden pocket inside their trousers. | |||
| * Women are advised to keep a good quality black purse (bought by oneself, not gifted by someone else) and keep as much money as they want in it.</br> | |||
| * A new better quality, (better than the last) wallet or purse should be bought every year.</br> | |||
| * Keep a money plant in a glass bottle indoors.</br> | |||
| * Keep away from beef. (He is neutral to dietary habits in general otherwise)</br> | |||
| * For people in India, keep a new 10 rupee bundle (100 notes) in the locker/safe and see it once in every 15 days. | |||
| * Keep a bundle of new one dollar notes or a new hundred dollar note in locker/safe and see it once in every 15 days.</br> | |||
| * Part one tenth of your earnings (this one tenth is called '''Daswand''') and deposit in your deity's coffers. It shouldn't be seen as 'you giving 10%'. for all is Almighty's. If your deity grants you wealth, the 10% is your gratefulness towards your deity for the grace.</br> | |||
| * Respect all religions and deities. They are all but One.</br> | |||
| * Never hurt anyone.</br> | |||
| * Neither spend long hours praying nor should you avoid it completely. Do your prayer everyday with faith, even if for 2 minutes.</br> | |||
| * Keep away from rituals, charms, stones, amulets, astrological or occult practices, the deities are above them all, and those who would rather trust these practices are left alone to suffer by the deities. </br> | |||
| * If you have religious books, read them, even if one couplet a day, if you can't, don't keep them as collection items.</br> | |||
| * Try not to get involved in money landing businesses where your solo earning is the interest (6% or above) given by the needy.</br> | |||
| * Don't keep what's not yours. Even if you find unclaimed money laying on the street, put it in any religious place's coffers.</br> | |||
| * If you delay payments due to someone else, payments due to you would be delayed.</br> | |||
| * Mortgaging jewellery means inviting misfortune. </br> | |||
| * Don't just think about visiting your Deity's place, mandir, mosque, church etc, visit it. The more you delay, the harder it would be for you to go there later as then the Deity would refuse to receive you. If you forget Him, He'd forget you.</br> | |||
| * | |||
| '''This is not a wholistic set of instructions, for a complete set follow Baba's videos on his site NirmalBaba.com''' | |||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| Onset of year 2012 saw a huge smear campaign against Baba. Many channels and news papers made fun of the activities in the Samaagams. Many established astrologers, Lal Kitaab practitioners, occult Gurus, priests appeared on these channels challenging and disregarding Baba's ways, some filed law suites against Baba. One of the tenets of Baba's teachings is that if you saw a certain food item and you felt like having it, then go ahead and have it, otherwise it's a disrespect to that food item. Also if you had it all by yourself and didn't bring any to you family, then that becomes a deficit with you. This particular tenet became a special attraction for ridicule. It was said that Baba is suggesting eating certain things like rabdi, pani-puri, ras gulley, samosay etc. as solutions.<ref name=disciple_registered>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's disciple registered complaint in court; Hearing on 1st May|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-nirmal-babas-disciple-registered-complaint-in-court-hearing-on-1st-may-3123890.html|accessdate=7 May 2012|newspaper=DailyBhaskar.com|date=17 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | A couple from Ludhiana, Baba's home town, also filed a police complaint against him for duping them financially.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nirmal Baba cheated on us: couple from Ludhiana|url=http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34-more/28651-Nirmal%20Baba%20cheated%20us:%20Ludhiana%20couple|publisher=Star News|accessdate=14 April 2012}}</ref> On April 16, 2012, the couple and three others were arrested for using forgery to steal {{INR convert|1.7|c}} from Baba.<ref name=punjab /><ref>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's disciples booked for forgery|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/Nirmal-Babas-disciples-booked-for-forgery/articleshow/12688532.cms|accessdate=17 April 2012|newspaper=Times of India|date=17 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Case lodged against Nirmal Baba disciples for forgery|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/case-lodged-against-nirmal-baba-disciples-for-forgery/986447.html|accessdate=17 April 2012|newspaper=IBN Live|date=April 16, 2012}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | Amidst the controversy, some of Baba's followers alleged that the media was failing to report the truth.<ref name=supporters_lash>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's supporters lash out at media|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2012/04/19/nirmal-baba-s-supporters-lash-out-at-media.html|accessdate=7 May 2012|newspaper=One India News|date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> | ||
| ==Reaction== | |||
| Soon after the media criticism, his ] page was flooded with comments from supporters and fans. | |||
| ⚫ | Amidst the controversy, Baba's followers alleged that the media was failing to report the truth.<ref name=supporters_lash>{{cite news|title=Nirmal Baba's supporters lash out at media|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2012/04/19/nirmal-baba-s-supporters-lash-out-at-media.html|accessdate=7 May 2012|newspaper=One India News|date=April 19, 2012}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | In another development, Nirmal Baba was informed by several priests of the country that he would not be allowed and will be forced to stay away from sacred Hindu pilgrimage Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad next year due to alleged fraud. <ref>http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-fraud-nirmal-babas-entry-banned-into-holy-kumbh-mela-3154553.html</ref> Eventually on 9th may 2012, a local court directed Lucknow police to register a case of fraud and cheating against him on the initial complaint filed by two minors.<ref name=timesofindia>{{cite news|title=Lodge fraud case against Nirmal Baba, says Chief Judicial Magistrate|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Lodge-fraud-case-against-Nirmal-Baba-says-Chief-Judicial-Magistrate/articleshow/13073944.cms|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com|date=10 May 2012}}</ref>. The Lucknow police acted on 12th may and charged him with cheating, fraud and impersonation under various sections (including ]) of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucknow Police files FIR against Nirmal Baba|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lucknow-police-files-fir-against-nirmal-baba/257199-3.html|publisher=ibnlive|accessdate=12 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=nesbullet>{{cite news|title=FIR against Nirmal Baba for superstition|url=http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34/29902|accessdate=20 May 2012|newspaper=newsbullet india}}</ref><ref name=FIRSTPOST>{{cite news|title=FIR for cheating, fraud: Nirmal Baba running out of luck?|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/fir-for-cheating-fraud-nirmal-baba-running-out-of-luck-307433.html|accessdate=20 May 2012|newspaper=FIRSTPOST}}</ref>In a separate development, a PIL was filed against Nirmal for transmission of his allegedly fraudulent t.v programs where the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court sought a reply from the Central government on the ban of broadcast of Nirmal Baba's controversial programs on different t.v channels.<ref name=financialexpress>{{cite news|title=Ban Nirmal Baba's TV transmissions: PIL|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/ban-nirmal-babas-tv-transmissions-pil/952451/|accessdate=23 May 2012|newspaper=financialexpress}}</ref><ref name=timesofindia>{{cite news|title=Ban on Nirmal Baba's shows: High court seeks reply|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Ban-on-Nirmal-Babas-shows-High-court-seeks-reply/articleshow/13402777.cms|accessdate=23 May 2012|newspaper=timesofindia}}</ref> | ||
| ==Priests shaken up== | |||
| ⚫ | In another development, Nirmal Baba was informed by several priests of the country that he would not be allowed and will be forced to stay away from sacred Hindu pilgrimage Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad next year due to alleged fraud. <ref>http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-fraud-nirmal-babas-entry-banned-into-holy-kumbh-mela-3154553.html</ref> Eventually on 9th may 2012, a local court directed Lucknow police to register a case of fraud and cheating against him on the initial complaint filed by two minors.<ref name=timesofindia>{{cite news|title=Lodge fraud case against Nirmal Baba, says Chief Judicial Magistrate|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Lodge-fraud-case-against-Nirmal-Baba-says-Chief-Judicial-Magistrate/articleshow/13073944.cms|accessdate=10 May 2012|newspaper=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com|date=10 May 2012}}</ref>. The Lucknow police acted on 12th may and charged him with |
||
| ==Arrest Warrant== | ==Arrest Warrant== | ||
| Line 112: | Line 46: | ||
| Patna High Court on 22nd June quashed the Bihar court's arrest warrant, stating "the CJM did not apply judicial mind while issuing the warrant".<ref>{{cite news|first=TNN|title=Warrant against Nirmal Baba quashed|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/patna/32381337_1_bailable-warrant-cjm|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|date=23 June 2012}}</ref> | Patna High Court on 22nd June quashed the Bihar court's arrest warrant, stating "the CJM did not apply judicial mind while issuing the warrant".<ref>{{cite news|first=TNN|title=Warrant against Nirmal Baba quashed|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/patna/32381337_1_bailable-warrant-cjm|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=The Times of India|date=23 June 2012}}</ref> | ||
| ==Devotees Unmoved== | |||
| Despite all this, Baba's devotees are about 10 million strong and growing, in and outside India. The reason devotees give for their '''unshakable faith in Baba''' are, their own experiences of their problems getting resolved and not hearsay, not having to spend a single penny for buying charms, readings or anything of that sort for nothing has ever been sold by Baba to any of His devotees. Baba's devotees also find themselves free from superstition, threats by astrologers, priests, occult practitioners, and people of ill will in general, as they more often than not experience that they just have to do what's their rightful act, and everything else would be taken care of by Baba. Its not a requirement to ever come to any of the Samaagams, or meet Baba in any way, one just has to follow His teachings and see the difference, then its the Devotee's personal experience that becomes his personal evidence. The smear campaign itself is dyeing out as cases filed against Baba are all being rejected, number of TV channels involved in the campaign reducing, and number of devotees ever increasing. Devotees have been registering their experiences on just for the purpose. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 04:13, 10 September 2012
| Nirmal Baba | |
|---|---|
| Personal life | |
| Born | Nirmaljeet Singh Narula 1952 Samana, Punjab, India |
| Website | http://nirmalbaba.com/ |
Nirmaljeet Singh Narula or Nirmal Baba is a controversial self proclaimed godman and "spiritual leader" known for his public discourses and has followers in some parts of India and Nepal. Nirmal Baba alias Nirmaljeet Singh Narula became controversial and came to limelight following several allegations of cheating and fraud against him in several states.
Life
Nirmal Baba, former name Nirmaljit Singh Nirula, was born in 1952 in Samana, India, near Patiala Punjab, is the youngest of two brothers and three sisters. His brother Manjit Singh lives in Ludhiana. Among his three sisters, eldest is dead, one of them is married to former Jharkhand assembly speaker and BJP MP Inder Singh Namdhari, while the third sister lives in Delhi. In 1970, after the murder of his father, Nirmaljit Singh moved to Daltonganj, Jharkhand in 1970.
Nirmaljit Singh began his brick kiln business in 1981. However, he suffered losses and following this, he started a cloth shop but again he failed in his venture.
Nirmal Darbar
Nirmal Darbar used to be the name of the paid televised show corresponding to each public meeting of Baba. This show was broadcast by approximately 40 different channels including AXN, TV Asia, Star News, SAB TV and more. During these Darbars, he used to make public appearances and conversed with aggrieved devotees who usually narrated their personal, social or financial worries to him. He then, used to advise them on those issues publicly and suggested "solutions". All the Samagam meetings had tickets starting from ₹2,000 (US$23).
Allegations of fraud
"Nirmal Darbar" a spiritual program run by Nirmal Baba came under media and legal attacks because of its allegedly fraudulent activities and for charging exorbitant sums of money from people claiming to solve their problems with the help of self proclaimed "divine powers" and solutions through eating certain things like rabdi, pani-puri etc. Soon after the media criticism, his Facebook page was flooded with comments from supporters and fans. The news site Dailybhaskar has alleged that many of these Facebook profiles are fake. During further investigations, as revealed on 15 April 2012, Nirmal Baba had invested the donations collected in his samagam and daswant into buying a hotel worth ₹30 crore (US$3.5 million) in Greater Kailash area of New Delhi. Nirmal Baba was involved in mining of Kyanite from Jyoti Hill, Jharkhand in 1998-1999.
A couple from Ludhiana, Baba's home town, also filed a police complaint against him for duping them financially. On April 16, 2012, the couple and three others were arrested for using forgery to steal ₹1.7 crore (US$200,000) from Baba.
Reactions
Amidst the controversy, some of Baba's followers alleged that the media was failing to report the truth.
In another development, Nirmal Baba was informed by several priests of the country that he would not be allowed and will be forced to stay away from sacred Hindu pilgrimage Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad next year due to alleged fraud. Eventually on 9th may 2012, a local court directed Lucknow police to register a case of fraud and cheating against him on the initial complaint filed by two minors.. The Lucknow police acted on 12th may and charged him with cheating, fraud and impersonation under various sections (including Section 420) of the Indian Penal Code.In a separate development, a PIL was filed against Nirmal for transmission of his allegedly fraudulent t.v programs where the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court sought a reply from the Central government on the ban of broadcast of Nirmal Baba's controversial programs on different t.v channels.
Arrest Warrant
On May 20, 2012, A Bihar court issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Nirmal. The next day, on 21st May, Nirmal Baba moved to Patna high court challenging the legality of non-bailable arrest warrant. After hearing his petition the high court stayed his arrest on 23rd May.
Arrest Warrant Quashed
Patna High Court on 22nd June quashed the Bihar court's arrest warrant, stating "the CJM did not apply judicial mind while issuing the warrant".
References
- "Cheating, fraud cases against Nirmal Baba in UP". Ghaziabad: The Indian Express. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ "Nirmal Baba self proclaimed guru faces more trouble".
- "STAR News Exclusive: Hard facts about Nirmal Baba". Star News. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
- "How Nirmal Baba rose to popularity on the web". Daily Bhaskar.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba's disciple registered complaint in court; Hearing on 1st May". DailyBhaskar.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- "More disclosures put Nirmal Baba in tight spot". Zee news. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- "Selling spirituality: 'Fraud' Nirmal Baba has fake followers too". Daily Bhaskar. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba used donations to buy hotel". Zee news. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- "'Nirmal Baba fled without paying house rent'". Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba cheated on us: couple from Ludhiana". Star News. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba's disciples booked for forgery". Times of India. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- PTI (April 16, 2012). "Case lodged against Nirmal Baba disciples for forgery". IBN Live. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba's supporters lash out at media". One India News. April 19, 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-fraud-nirmal-babas-entry-banned-into-holy-kumbh-mela-3154553.html
- ^ "Lodge fraud case against Nirmal Baba, says Chief Judicial Magistrate". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
{{cite news}}: External link in|newspaper= - "Lucknow Police files FIR against Nirmal Baba". ibnlive. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- "FIR against Nirmal Baba for superstition". newsbullet india. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- "FIR for cheating, fraud: Nirmal Baba running out of luck?". FIRSTPOST. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- "Ban Nirmal Baba's TV transmissions: PIL". financialexpress. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- "Non-bailable warrant issued against Nirmal Baba". Timesofindia. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba likely to be arrested". samaylive. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba challenges non-bailable arrest warrant". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- "Nirmal Baba challenges non-bailable arrest warrant". CNN IBN.
- "HC stays operation of NBW against Nirmal Baba". hindustan times. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- "HC stays Nirmal Baba's arrest, for now". zee news. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- "Warrant against Nirmal Baba quashed". The Times of India. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
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