French police detained the head of a global tantric yoga group on the allegation that he subjected his female followers to sexual exploitation via indoctrination.
Taken Into Custody
The Romanian guru, Gregorian Bivolaru, who is at the center of the Atman Yoga Federation, was taken into custody on Tuesday, November 28. A large police operation took place throughout the Paris area, according to a French court official, via a EuroNews report.
In addition to being a yoga instructor and author, the 71-year-old is also a member of the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA), which is a federation that has its headquarters in England.
According to a source close to the inquiry, the movement is comprised of many yoga schools and branches. The number of followers is tough to determine, but it is "several hundred people," the individual said.
Apart from Bivolaru, several individuals who are believed to be essential leaders of the group in France have been taken into custody.
MISA was established in 1990 by Bivolaru, who was found guilty of raping a child in his home country of Romania. After rebranding as the Atman Yoga Federation, the group went global.
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Sexual Assault, Psychological Manipulation Claims
After allegations of sexual abuse and psychological manipulation surfaced inside the organization in July of this year, French authorities reportedly launched an inquiry against Bivolaru and the Federation. It was not until July 2022 that former MISA members began informing authorities about the atrocities.
French officials said Bivolaru is facing charges related to human trafficking, organized abduction, rape, and the organized exploitation of weakness by sect members.
International police organization Interpol has issued a warrant for Bivolaru's arrest on behalf of the government in Finland. He is sought on charges of aggravated human trafficking, ABC News reported.
There is a widespread conspiracy to discredit Bivolaru, according to the Altman Federation and other websites covering him.
Across the French capital, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, and the Alpes-Maritimes, 175 police officers were part of the raids, which led to 40 further arrests.
The operation targeted many places frequented by the organization, where women were allegedly brainwashed and forced into sexual activities. Known as "ashrams," these places reportedly housed women chosen by Bivolaru to undergo tantric yoga initiation.
According to the court source, the French inquiry revealed evidence of students being forced to engage in sexual acts, including participating in graphic video conversations, in exchange for financial benefit.
The official said that these actions, which were supposedly done in the name of tantric yoga principles, were part of a complex system of controlling and exploiting people financially.
