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KOTHUR (MAHBUBNAGAR): Elizabeth wanders in search of food on the streets of Kothur in Mahbubnagar district. Allegedly duped by a fake godman who promised her ’spiritual bliss’ and ’moksha’, Elizabeth is a complete wreck now.

Residing in a dilapidated hut in an agriculture field on the outskirts of Patigadda thanda in Kothur town, 40-year-old Elizabeth was brought here by the fake swami, Gopal Nanda Puri Maharaj, in 2007. He reportedly married her. After allegedly usurping her property in the name of taking her on a spiritual journey, the godman reportedly made her a slave of ganja and other drug substances. He even gave her a new name, Induganti Devadasi.

"The fascination towards Indian spirituality and mystic Vedas brought me to the country. But I had never thought that I would be cheated. But I do not want to go back as my life is here with Gopal Maharaj," she said. Elizabeth came to India under visiting visa in 2005 from Switzerland as a member of Iskcon. "I hail from Basel. I want to settle down here after constructing an ashram, a goshala (cattle shed) and Lord Krishna temple," she said.

She sold all her property in Switzerland and handed over Rs 30 lakh to Gopal for the building of an ashram and the temple. After reaching Ujjain in Uttar Pradesh, she wanted to learn Vedic scriptures and study Indian spirituality. She joined one Bhakti Sheela Veda Prabhu as his disciple where she met Gopal.

He brought her here under the pretext of enhancing her spiritual horizon and started living together. "When he said that he wanted to build an ashram and a temple, I went back to my country," she recalled. She sold her property and handed over Rs 30 lakh to Gopal.

While people of nearby villages and allege that he is a fake godman, Gopal bought a piece of farm land on the outskirts of the town and started living with Elizabeth. Curiously, Elizabeth said she was married to him while Gopal insisted that it was only a ’platonic’ relationship.

When asked, he claimed he had several disciples in Gujarat and other countries. "I am a scholar and a godman. I will develop a beautiful ashram and build a temple in the area once my land disputes are solved," he said. He claimed he hadn’t duped Elizabeth. "I have always given her spiritual emancipation," he added.