Yadgir (Karnataka): The wife of a man from Telangana, who had been roaming around Karnataka as a self-proclaimed mystic, said that her husband was a fraud and was duping people with lies.
Shiva Reddy, alias 'Bullet Baba' visited the Keshwara village and claimed that he could perform miracles. Five years ago, he had come to Yanagundi and was claiming to be an expert in Ayurveda.
After arriving at Keshwara, Reddy spread the word around the villages that he was now a 'Baba' and could perform miracles. As months passed, many villagers started to believe him and became his devotees.
The 'baba' soon started taking money from his devotees, promising that he could solve all their problems. Villagers soon started to treat him like a Godly figure and even offered prayers to him.
Soon, the 'Baba' took over a piece of agricultural land from a villager, promising that he would build a temple on the plot. However, he later built an ashram on the plot.
He soon earned the name 'Bullet Baba' as he would roam around in his Bullet motorbike, donning different types of attire. It is alleged that the 'Baba' paid those who knew about his actual background, to ensure they do not reveal his true identity.
However, the man's wife came to Keshwara village and revealed that Shiva Reddy was not his actual name and that he was not a saint as he claimed.
"He is roaming around as a Baba. He is not shiva reddy, his name is Raju. He is a Christian. We have been married for over 15 years, and are from Warangal," she said.
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Janu Raju, who hails from Telangana's Warangal, had got married to Kavitha in 2003. According to her, Raju would get into illicit relationships with other women and started selling Ayurvedic medicines. When she got to know about his affairs, Raju began to torture her, and later ran away from home.
Later in 2006, and 2009, Kavitha lodged complaints with the Police against her husband, but he was not caught.
Villagers claimed that the 'Baba', after settling in Keshwara, built contacts with numerous politicians and leaders of Gurumatkal.
Raju's wife claimed that he is not even an Ayurvedic pharmacist, as he would give a mix of turmeric and vermillion to people in the name of medicine.
"He is no Baba, but a fraud. He sells such Ayurvedic medicines. He keeps changing his get-up and cheats people. I appeal to the people to not fall into his trap and report to the police if they have any information about his whereabouts," she said.
Meanwhile, Kavitha's brother too asked people to report about the 'Baba' to the police.
"He is no saint, no God. He is a fraud. He dupes people to earn money. Please inform the police. He used to trap women. Wherever he goes, a case is registered against him," he said.
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