German-Indian 'guru' kept children aged 7 and 11 as guards, portrayed self as spiritual teacher, arrested in Italy

Italian authorities have arrested a man of German-Indian origin who led an isolated forest community on Sicily on suspicion of aiding and abetting child abuse, according to Italian news agencies ANSA and Adnkronos.

The man presented himself as the community’s spiritual teacher.The suspect is said to have led a group of 15 people, including two children aged 7 and 11, living in a forest near Cefalù on Sicily’s northern coast. The children were not vaccinated, did not attend school, and were forced to stand guard around the house at night. Moreover, the house had no electricity and poor hygiene.Adnkronos quoted the public prosecutor’s office describing the environment as “characterised by forms of isolation and psychological conditioning.”The German-Indian man, described as a “guru,” arrived in Sicily nearly ten years ago and held several spiritual meetings. The group included Germans, Britons and an Italian woman. He persuaded followers to live in harmony with nature and embrace poverty, ANSA reported, while enjoying a taste for luxury himself.Authorities were alerted after the father of one of the man’s followers and the mother of one of the children came forward. The hotelier from Cefalù informed police about the alleged manipulation his daughter had experienced within the community, as well as repeated cash withdrawals by the woman. Following the investigation, the two children were removed from the community, ANSA reported.