Surat Yoga Guru Accused of Extortion, Fake Medicine Sales to Hundreds

A self-styled yoga guru operating from Surat has been arrested after police uncovered a racket in which hundreds of couples were allegedly cheated of lakhs of rupees under the guise of Ayurvedic treatment and spiritual healing.

Pradeep Jotangiya, who ran the Surat-based Shree Satyam Yog Foundation, established the ashram in Kamrej in 2008. His credentials, however, were never what they appeared. Reports indicate he operated under the label of "fake natural therapy claims," offering treatments that included purported heart blockage cures with no legitimate medical basis. Victims across hundreds of cases report significant financial losses after paying for Ayurvedic treatment packages that went unfulfilled.

The scale of the criminal enterprise extended well beyond fraudulent medicine sales. The Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested seven individuals, including Jotangiya, in connection with a counterfeit currency racket, with fake Rs 500 notes totalling Rs 2.38 crore recovered from a vehicle in Ahmedabad and from locations in Surat. The operation's infrastructure was led by associate Mukesh Thummar, who arranged printers and paper cutting machines, and procured security thread paper resembling RBI markings from Chinese sources through online platforms using cryptocurrency.

Investigators found the entire operation was being run from the premises of the Shree Satyam Yoga Foundation ashram located in Stad Pardi village of Kamrej taluka. A key detail was the use of a vehicle marked with "Satyam Yoga Foundation" insignia resembling those of the Government of India and the Ministry of AYUSH, allegedly used to avoid suspicion and enable smooth movement across locations.

During questioning, Jotangiya told police he was short of money to support those coming to the yoga centre for treatment and accommodation, and that they decided to arrange funds illegally. The probe further extended to Rajkot, where Jotangiya had also been running yoga classes under the name "Satyam Yoga and Health Center."

All seven accused were remanded to 10-day police custody by a city court in Ahmedabad. Officials confirmed that financial transactions, including donations linked to the Pradeep Yog Foundation, are being scrutinised, with properties also under investigation.

For the yoga and wellness community, the case is a stark reminder of how the language of authentic practice, including Ayurveda, ashram culture, and spiritual authority, can be co-opted by bad actors. The accused have been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections covering counterfeiting currency notes, possession of forged currency, and having instruments to forge currency. Investigation into the full distribution network and any remaining accused is continuing.