Nepal’s ‘Buddha Boy’ convicted of raping minor; verdict expected next week

ANI-US |
Updated: June 24, 2024, 9:59 p.m. IS

Kathmandu (Nepal), June 24 (ANI): The Sarlahi District Court on Monday convicted ‘Buddha Boy’, alias Ram Bahadur Bomjan, of raping a minor, court officials confirmed.
The controversial spiritual leader, who was nicknamed “Buddha Boy” in early 2005, was arrested by Nepal’s Central Bureau of Investigation on January 10 this year in a suburb of the capital Kathmandu and taken to Sarlahi.
“The Sarlahi District Court has convicted him of sexual misconduct with a minor. The court will pronounce its verdict in the case on July 1,” court official Sadan Adhikari confirmed to ANI over the phone.
The 34-year-old, originally named Ram Lal Bomjan and known since 2005 as “Buddha Boy” or the reincarnation of Gautam Buddha, is accused of rape and enforced disappearance at several police stations in the Himalayan state.
Bomjan came to public attention in 2005 after he claimed to have meditated for months without eating, drinking or sleeping. Soon after his meditation, he established ashrams in Bara, Sarlahi, Sindhupalchowk and Sindhuli districts.

In early July 2020, the Sarlahi District Court registered a case of sexual exploitation filed by a minor student (then aged 15). According to the chargesheet, the incident took place at the ashram in Pattharkot, Sarlahi.
Soon after the complaint was filed, the police found that four of his disciples had also disappeared from his ashram. In June 2020, a joint team of the CIB, Bagmati Provincial Police and district police offices in Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, and Sarlahi conducted a raid on his ashram in Pairey, Sindhuli, but could not find him.
The victim accused Bomjan of raping her on the night of August 4, 2016. The minor also stated that she kept it a secret after Bomjan threatened her not to tell anyone about the incident or face the consequences.
Bomjan was revered and regarded as the reincarnation of Gautam Buddha. He had a considerable number of disciples, but had been on the run since early 2020. He was charged with sexual exploitation by female disciples.
A local news portal, Setopati.com, reported the incident in a series that brought to light the incidents that took place in the ashrams of an alleged spiritual leader.
In addition to the allegations of sexual exploitation, the “Buddha Boy” was also accused of causing the disappearance of five people – his students in different districts.
A local news portal, Setopati.com, reported the incident in a series that brought to light the incidents that took place in the ashrams of an alleged spiritual leader. (ANI)