Self-styled godman Daati Maharaj and his associates have been accused of raping a woman. According to reports, the first information report against Daati was lodged on Sunday by one of his disciples. She has alleged that the godman and his associates raped her on two occasions two years ago.

“The incident happened in Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri Ashram and Rajasthan’s Alawasa Ashram,” advocate of the complainant, Pradeep Tiwari told India Today group. Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal met the complainant on Monday and issued a notice to Delhi police asking them to provide security to the complainant.

While media houses reported on rape allegations being levelled against the self-styled godman, it is noteworthy that Daati Maharaj was once daily fodder for Hindi TV news. His meteoric rise also coincides with his appearances on TV news channels and successful horoscope show. Daati would say during his TV shows that Lord Shani is like a father to him and no one should be afraid of Shani.

Daati has founded the Shanidham in Delhi’s Asola area and with time expanded his empire in Delhi and Rajasthan. India TV was probably the first big Hindi news channel to give space to Daati Maharaj. As early as 2007, his horoscope show, Guru Mantra became popular on the channel.

Over the years, he has projected himself as someone who mainstreamed the worship of Lord Shani in the past decade. During the Haridwar Mahakumbh, in 2010, Shree Panchayati Mahanirvaani Akhada gave him the title of Mahamandaleshwar. Daati’s show Guru Mantra remained popular among Hindi news channels. After his stint with India TV, he also featured on channels such as MH 1 News and Zee Hindustan.