Nepal arrests ‘Buddha boy’ spiritual leader who followers believe is ‘reincarnation of

A spiritual leader known as ‘Buddha boy’ whose followers believe he is a ‘reincarnation of the founder of Buddhism’ has been arrested by Nepalese police over rape claims and ‘disappearances’ at his ashrams.

Ram Bahadur Bomjan had thousands of devotees and became famous as a teenager after followers claimed he could meditate motionless for months without water, food or sleep.

The 33-year-old guru continues to have a devout following but has long been accused of physically and sexually assaulting worshippers, and had been hiding from authorities for several years.

Police apprehended Bomjan in Kathmandu on a warrant issued for his alleged rape of a minor at an ashram in Sarlahi, a district south of the capital.

They said he was caught with bundles of cash amounting to 30 million Nepali rupees (£280,000) and another £18,000 in foreign currency from 16 different countries.

Nepal police escort Ram Bahadur Bomjan at the premises of Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau in Kathmandu

Ram Bahadur Bomjan was believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha. He is pictured blessing a Buddhist monk in Nijgadh town, about 100 miles south of Katmandu

Authorities never formally declared Bomjan to be the reincarnation of Buddha, but people have worshipped him continuously since 2005

Bomjan’s popularity has declined but he still has camps attended by thousands of his followers in southern Nepal

Accusations of abuse and misconduct against Bomjan stretch back more than a decade.

Dozens of assault complaints were filed against Bomjan in 2010. He said he beat the victims because they disturbed his meditation.

An 18-year-old nun accused the guru of raping her at a monastery in 2018.

Police opened another investigation against him the following year after family members reported the disappearance of four of his devotees from one of his ashrams.

The whereabouts of the four are still unknown, Dinesh Acharya of the Central Investigation Bureau told reporters on Wednesday.

‘Unless we know what situation the missing are in we are not in a position to call it murder,’ he said.

Authorities never formally declared Bomjan to be the reincarnation of Buddha, but people have worshipped him continuously since 2005. 

Before he went on the run, Bomjan still commanded a legion of followers as the allegations against him mounted.

While aged 16, Bomjan disappeared for nine months to wander the wilderness of eastern Nepal before reappearing

While aged 16, Bomjan disappeared for nine months to wander the wilderness of eastern Nepal

His popularity has since declined but he still has camps attended by thousands of his followers in southern Nepal.

At one point tens of thousands of people gathered to witness his reputed miracles of meditation deep in the jungle.

While aged 16, Bomjan disappeared for nine months to wander the wilderness of eastern Nepal, prompting a round-the-clock vigil by Buddhist monks who prayed for his safe return.

Accusations of abuse and misconduct against Bomjan stretch back more than a decade

Members of the Central Investigation Bureau team escort Ram Bahadur Bomjan after his arrest

His re-emergence from the jungle saw thousands of devotees flock from as far as India to see him and hear him speak.

Buddhist priests were left divided over whether Bomjan was reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal around 500 BC and later became revered as the Buddha, which means Enlightened One.

Buddhism is practiced by some 500 million people worldwide and is considered the world’s fourth-largest religious tradition after Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.