Congress alleges prostitution racket at Ashok Nagar’s Anandpur Dham:Claims 3 IAS officers launder black money, cites 3 video evidence released by party

The Congress has levelled serious allegations against Anandpur Dham, a prominent religious complex in Ashok Nagar district, claiming that organised sexual exploitation and other illegal activities have been operating there for years. Addressing the press conference in Bhopal on Monday, Pradeep Ahirwar, President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Scheduled Caste Department, alleged that young men were being exploited at the ashram and that an organised sex racket was running on the premises. He claimed that video evidence supporting these allegations is in his possession. IAS officers accused of money laundering through trust Ahirwar alleged that three IAS officers—Vivek Agrawal, Avinash Lavania and Mayank Agrawal—were involved in converting black money into white through the Anandpur Dham Trust. According to him, the trust earns nearly Rs 800 crore annually, but no proper financial records are maintained. He claimed that the officers frequently visit the trust and use their influence to block action on complaints raised by local village heads. He said that if a proper investigation is conducted, “everything will come out”. No response from IAS officer Attempts by reporters to contact IAS officer Avinash Lavania for a response were unsuccessful, as he did not answer phone calls. Congress releases five videos, claims they show misconduct Ahirwar released five videos during the press conference. He claimed that three of them contain objectionable content. In one video, a young man is seen performing obscene acts. Ahirwar alleged that the person is a saint associated with Anandpur Dham. In another video, a baba is allegedly seen engaging in a sexual act, while a third video reportedly shows a baba sitting naked on a bed. In the fourth video, a young man makes serious allegations against a baba. In the fifth video, a woman volunteer alleges that she was asked to supply girls. All five videos are said to be around one year old. Dainik Bhaskar has not independently verified the authenticity of these videos. Youth alleges repeated sexual abuse in video In one of the videos, a young man identifies himself and his village, claiming that he was repeatedly sexually abused by individuals identified as Avadhesh Bhagat and Fauji Bhagat. He alleges that he was threatened with expulsion from the ashram if he refused, and that videos were made to blackmail him. The youth further claims that he was made to sign documents without understanding their contents and was threatened with harm to his parents if he spoke out. He said that if he does not receive justice, he may be driven to suicide. Allegations of land encroachment and human trafficking links Ahirwar also alleged that the trust had encroached upon tribal land and government land. He claimed that despite complaints of cow slaughter in 2025, no action was taken even at the level of the Director General of Police. He further alleged that several saints linked to the trust already face criminal cases and that the matter could also be connected to human trafficking. Congress alleges administrative inaction, seeks judicial probe The Congress leader claimed that repeated complaints to the police and district administration yielded no action. He alleged that even Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia failed to intervene despite being informed. Calling the case “Dera Sacha Sauda Part 2”, the Congress has demanded a judicial inquiry and said it would soon approach the High Court. Heavily fortified ashram spread over 1,500 bighas Anandpur Dham is located around 42 kilometres from Ashok Nagar district headquarters, near Isagarh on Chanderi Road. Established nearly 95 years ago as a small hut, the ashram has expanded over about 1,500 bighas. The complex has three private bus stands, its own fire brigade and landscaped gardens. High walls resembling a fort, topped with sharp glass, surround the premises, and security guards are posted at the main gate. Followers spread across India and abroad Followers of Anandpur Dham are spread across India and overseas, particularly in countries with large Indian diaspora populations such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Many followers are not formally registered, making it difficult to estimate their exact number. However, during the annual Baisakhi fair, the ashram reportedly attracts crowds running into lakhs. Advaita philosophy and historical background Anandpur Dham follows the Advaita school of Hindu philosophy, which teaches that there is only one ultimate reality—Brahman—and that the soul and the supreme are one. The ashram was established around 1930 by Swaroop Anand Maharaj, the second spiritual leader of the sect. The Anandpur Dham Trust was formed in 1954 to manage the ashram’s assets and institutions. Trust runs schools and hospital According to Sonu Maharaj, a senior saint of Anandpur Dham, the ashram is open to people of all religions and castes. Around 1,500 people, including monks, nuns and devotees, live on the premises. The trust runs three schools and one hospital in the district, offering free education, uniforms, meals, medical treatment and medicines. Major festivals celebrated at the ashram include Baisakhi, Vyas Puja and Diwali.