A few months ago in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Pastor Ratnakumar boldly proclaimed himself an exorcist, offering to alleviate spiritual afflictions without monetary charges. The pastor contended that his work was a manifestation of God’s will, maintaining that he genuinely resolved people’s problems, even though he acknowledged the difficulty of distinguishing genuine cases from those feigned.
This revelation comes from an investigation initiated by TV9, where a character artist was hired to test the pastor’s claims. The artist, reportedly suffering from a supposed spiritual affliction, was subjected to an unconventional remedy involving the application of oil into her mouth.
According to Pastor Ratnakumar, all the work undertaken resulted from divine intervention, and he insisted that he could not discern instances of fabricated problems. Despite the scepticism raised by the TV9 team, a vocal group in the video supported the pastor’s methods. They argued that no harm occurred during the spiritual sessions and warned of potential consequences for questioning what they believe to be acts of God.
Numerous individuals interviewed in the video attest to the pastor’s claims of not accepting money for his services. Some even claimed to have had their problems genuinely resolved. The supportive voices emphasised that the TV9 team would face repercussions for challenging what they perceived as divine acts.
To add a layer of official scrutiny to the situation, a representative from the HR Commission was present during the investigation, presumably to inquire into the pastor’s practices.
In response to the TV9 team’s questions, Pastor Ratnakumar asserted his commitment to not accepting money and vehemently denied any fraudulent activities. The ongoing investigation revolves around queries related to how the pastor treats mental conditions and his purported interactions with spirits. Despite repetitive questioning, consistent answers from the pastor reflect his unwavering stance on the legitimacy of his spiritual interventions.
Media often tends to sensationalise cases involving fraud by tantriks, sometimes going to the extent of unfairly defaming Hindu sadhus for crimes committed by individuals associated with other belief systems, particularly Muslim occultists. However, there seems to be a notable lack of attention when it comes to reporting on the widespread fraud perpetrated by evangelist pastors. It is concerning that these pastors engage in fraudulent activities on a massive and organised scale. Yet, the media appears less inclined to cover such instances with the same fervour as they do when it involves individuals from other religious backgrounds. This raises questions about the fairness and balance in media reporting on religious fraud cases.
Take the case of fake healing pastor Ankur Narula’s Church of Sign and Wonder in Himachal Pradesh, which was under scrutiny for its social media posts claiming miraculous healings of various ailments, from broken bones and paralysis to even resurrecting a baby supposedly deceased in pregnancy.
Or take the case of Paul Dinakaran and his Jesus Calls, which also indulges regularly in such fake healing practices. Last year (2023), Paul Dinakaran’s entire family was in Arunachal Pradesh for a faith-healing event that involved children.
These instances never get reported in mainstream media. It is always the Hindus that are targeted, and even if there is a slight mishap whatsoever, the entire blame comes on the Hindus for their “superstitious” habits. Recently, a 7-year-old boy died of suffocation after his mother dipped him in the Ganga river, hoping for a cure. Leftists and other liberals ridiculed Hindus for their trust in such practices. But none will open their mouths when it comes to the Ararara-type healing practices.
