MPs-MLAs favored rape-accused Uttam Swami:From eating leaves in cave to driving Range Rover; how come a servant became Maharaj

28 years ago, a teenager came to Unchakheda Ashram with some pilgrims from Maharashtra. While his other fellows (companions) moved ahead, the teenager stayed at the ashram. He served Guruji here at the ashram. After a few days, he said to Maharaj ji, “Guruji, I wish to open my own food center, what should I do?” Tatambar Maharaj said do Annapurna Sadhana and your purpose will be fulfilled. That teenager was none other than Uttam Swami. Uttam Swami stayed here for about a year, then where he went I don’t know… After saying this, Tyagi Maharaj falls silent. Tatambar Swami Maharaj’s ashram is located in the jungle near Unchakheda village, 10 kilometers away from Salkanpur Devi Dham. The head of this place, Tyagi Maharaj, is the ‘guru-bhai’ of the renowned saint Uttam Swami. The story that follows is very interesting. Uttam Swami, who once performed meditation by eating leaves in a cave, built his empire over the next 28 years with the help of MPs and MLAs. Uttam Swami, who moves around with a fleet of Range Rovers and Defender cars, is now in the news due to serious rape allegations. Read the complete story of Uttam Swami in this ground report… Uttam Swami used to live under a banyan tree near the ashram Although Tyagi Ji Maharaj remains silent about the guru-disciple dispute, the villagers tell the story beyond this. Ramswroop Meena from nearby village Holipura was a companion of young Uttam Swami in those days. Meena says that back then I used to go to the forest while grazing cows, Uttam Swami used to stay under the banyan tree near the ashram. I always carried roti for him in my bundle, I had asked what do you eat when you don’t get roti, he had told me that he eats ground peepal leaves. His fellow field owner Prahlad Meena says, we used to take cows there. We used to see Uttam Swami. Later we don’t know where he went. After opening up during a brief conversation, Ramswroop Meena said, I remember sometime later Uttam Swami had an argument with Tatambar Maharaj, Maharaj scolded him and abused him. Rambharos further says, I went to their Salanpur ashram, greeted them with Ram-Ram from afar, Narendra Mat Sahab took my photo with them. My photo is still displayed in the ashram today. Why Tatambar Maharaj got angry Tatambar Maharaj, who always wore jute sacks, is very famous in the area. Hundreds of his devotees still come to bow their heads at the ashram. The successors of Tatambar Maharaj and villager Uttam Swami do not give a solid reason for leaving the ashram. Most people mention that Tatambar Maharaj was angry with Uttam Swami, but there are many stories in the area about what disobedience Uttam Swami committed and why he left the ashram. Lived above a sweet shop in Rehti Some time after leaving the ashram, Uttam was seen with Lallu Kishore in Rehti. Mangal Singh Thakur says that Kishore had a sweet shop in Rehti, where Uttam Swami was seen with him. At that time, he used to wear saffron clothes. People say there was a room above the shop where Uttam stayed, then left after a few days. During the 2004 Simhastha, he met Tapan Bhaumik. From here, the foundation of Samarpan Seva Samiti was laid, where Tapan Bhaumik is the president and Uttam Swami is the patron. Bhaumik oversees the management of Maharaj’s ashrams. After this, Uttam Swami’s closeness with RSS and BJP grew. Former Sarpanch of Salkanpur, Vipat Uike says that once when we went to Ujjain, we saw the grandeur of his ashram and the queue of visiting officials and leaders, then we realized that the person we considered ordinary had become a big man. Now Uttam Swami is seen with the state’s Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, and RSS chief in many programs. Second innings in Salkanpur: Built ashram, schools-colleges Uttam Swami, who left the area after 1999-2000, became active again in this region after 2015-16. In 2017-18, he established the Samarpan Seva Samiti at the foot of Salkanpur hill. The building constructed in the name of community hall later became his ashram. He opened an agriculture college and school next to it. The ashram now has a three-story building. Manoj Deshmukh, secretary of the committee managing the premises, says that this ashram is empty. Maharaj ji only comes here on Sharad Purnima. Last time he came for Narmada Parikrama. When he comes, many people visit here. Otherwise, it remains deserted. After the rape allegations, no one has come here. Allegations of misuse of government funds at the ashram Sarpanch Manju Dahima of Salkanpur Panchayat says, Swami ji’s Ashram Seva Samarpan Samiti falls within our panchayat. The ashram received Rs 30 lakh from MP funds in 2019-20. A large building was constructed in the name of a community hall with this amount, and now no citizen from the panchayat area can even go there directly, let alone use the community hall. Sarpanch Dahima says, MPs, MLAs and leaders have lakhs of rupees to give to the ashram, but nothing to give to the panchayat. No work is getting done in our panchayat while floors upon floors are being built in the ashram. More than 100 vehicles in Maharaj’s convoy In Salkanpur, Rehti, Awali Ghat and surrounding areas, people talk about Uttam Swami’s influence. When Uttam Swami comes on Sharad Purnima, the atmosphere becomes like a fair. Many ministers, MLAs and VIPs visit here. Uttam Swami travels with a convoy of more than 100 vehicles. He himself travels in luxury vehicles like Range Rover or Toyota. His social media accounts also show many political figures and luxury cars which demonstrate his influence. Where did so much wealth come from in just a few years? How did a young man who was once a simple servant at the ashram acquire so many cars and ashrams? Questions are being raised about this. Salkanpur Traders Association President Aniruddh Dubey says that just 15-20 years ago, the person who used to walk alone is now moving around with a convoy of Range Rovers and Defenders. Ashrams have been built by taking farmers’ land through donation deeds. Some are donating Rs 50,000 while others are giving lakhs of rupees. Where is all this grandeur suddenly coming from? This should be investigated. Journey of Success – Young woman has made allegations of rape and sexual exploitation A young woman from Rajasthan has accused Uttam Swami of rape and sexual exploitation. The victim filed a complaint by sending an email to the Delhi Police Commissioner stating that Uttam Swami, who claims to be a spiritual guru, started exploitation in the name of spirituality since her minor age and exploited her for years by taking her to various ashrams and hotels. The young woman says she has been receiving threats since filing the complaint. At the time of the allegations, Uttam Swami was conducting a sermon in Jabalpur. After the matter came to light, Uttam Swami left the sermon and went into hiding. After this, the young woman has once again demanded 24-hour security and keeping her current residence confidential, citing threats to herself, her brother and family. Victim’s family connected to Maharaj When Dainik Bhaskar’s reporter reached the spot and discussed with Tapan Bhowmik, chairman of Seva Samarpan Trust, he said that Uttam Swami Maharaj is a great saint. His service projects are running in many states. He used to come to Salkanpur Ashram only on Sharad Purnima every year, at that time thousands of people would come here, and food prasad was distributed. He has many disciples, more than 5 lakh people are his disciples. Bhowmik says, as far as the victim is concerned, we don’t know whether she is speaking truth or lying. Right now there are only allegations. The victim’s family is also connected to Maharaj ji. On the question of expenditure from development funds on the ashram, he said that the community building which was built with government funds is still a community building today, where stories etc. are held, rest of the construction is ours.