Shifu Sunkriti cult leader Sunil Kulkarni sexually exploited victims, say Mumbai cops

The court remanded him in police custody until April 28.

Shifu Sunkriti cult leader Sunil Kulkarni sexually exploited his young followers, the Mumbai police claimed in court on Thursday. The court remanded him in police custody until April 28.

Kulkarni would allegedly prescribe sedatives to his followers – mostly between 18 and 25 years old – in the name of treatment.

Public prosecutor RY Suryavanshi, seeking Kulkarni’s custody, said that he would prescribe sedatives to his followers – mostly between 18 and 25 years old – in the name of treatment.

“He would give such medicines to youngsters and turn them against their parents. He would then persuade them to into sexual activities,” Suryavanshi said.

The crime branch said that two daughters of a couple from Malad – one a law graduate and the other a student of architecture – had left their home after being influenced by Kulkarni. The police alleged that Kulkarni was a visiting faculty member at the college of the elder daughter, who later introduced her sister to him.

Suryavanshi said that Kulkarni would show his victims obscene pictures and literature. The prosecutor argued that the two women – and various other victims, including men – lived with Kulkarni but were now untraceable.

The crime branch recovered a pen drive from Kulkarni that contained photographs of naked and semi-naked young men and women. The agency claimed these were people whom Kulkarni had lured into his cult.

The police are also investigating allegations that the younger daughter was sexually abused by Kulkarni.

Kulkarni rejected all the allegations in court. He did not appointed a lawyer, choosing to argue the case himself.“The women were abused by their parents and they have filed complaint with the Borivli police station as well as the women’s commission. The court should call the women and record their statements. They have not been heard,” he said.

The public prosecutor said that Kulkarni had previously been arrested for sexually abusing a minor in Delhi and booked under The Protection of Childer from Sexual Offenses Act. Kulkarni was granted bail by a Delhi court and shifted to Mumbai. The Mumbai police will be looking into this case for clues.