1/6: Each morning Radha Kund, on the outskirts of Mathura, unfolds to the rhythm of chants, temple bells and the sight of sadhus. But these days, one name disrupts the religious atmosphere. Mention “IIT Baba”, and conversations turn animated.
2/6: Conversations everywhere swirl around the Odiya engineer-turned-preacher Abhishek Mishra, 29, arrested last week for allegedly using spirituality to lure young followers and sexually exploit women.
3/6: The scandal has shaken Radha Kund, where Mishra built a following among engineering students who abandoned college studies, jobs and families to join him. He titled himself as Adikarta Narayan Das.
4/6: Mishra exhorted his followers to 'reject corporate rat race', preached the Bhagavad Gita & gave sermons on YouTube & in person to engg students from IIT and NIT from inside a 167 sq m under-construction ashram in Radha Kund.
5/6: But not a lot of people know him. Neighbours told ThePrint they would often greet each other by saying “Hare Krishna”, and that was it. Cops say Mishra had 'brainwashed' his followers.
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