Indian Guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, who has become known throughout India's pop culture, performs in a music video for his song "Ram Ram." Photo: Hakikat Entertainment Private Limited

HE is adored by millions of followers worldwide, is the star of a major film and has convinced hundreds of men to castrate themselves.

The so-called “guru in bling” has also been linked to a murder and there are allegations of sexual abuse, but Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has always managed to stay one step ahead of authorities.

There are signs though his luck and influence might be running out.

His hold over followers was so powerful he convinced up to 400 followers to have their testicles removed because by doing so they would be able to speak directly to God.

Most feared for their lives and were worried about being social outcasts if they spoke out against him but it appears some have finally broken ranks and are prepared to go on the record with their allegations.

Until now hundreds of followers have been united in protecting him by not speaking with investigators, sources told India’sMail Todaynewspaper.

But it seems the cone of silence is about to smashed open as officers from the Indian equivalent of the FBI, the Central Bureau of Investigation, have reportedly obtained statements from some victims.

They have been building a case against Ram Rahim for months and intend to lay charges of grievous bodily harm against him.

“CBI sleuths met some old Dera followers and were, thus, successful in tracing some others who were castrated in the name of God.

“Some of the castrated followers, who agreed to record their statements before the judicial magistrate, have left for Delhi where the case has been registered,” a source told Mail Today.

Some of the witnesses have told police the castrations happened at a hospital run by Ram Rahim’s organisation.

It’s far from the first time he has come in for attention from authorities. In 2002 he faced conspiracy charges over the murder of a journalist who was investigating him and there have also been allegations of sexual abuse of female followers.

So far he has managed to escape having convictions of any wrongdoing, partly because he is a favourite of politicians, who see his value as a source of votes, Fairfax reported.

Ram Rahim has an estimated fortune of $50 million and as many as 50 million followers worldwide.

But in a sign his grip on followers could be weakening, ticket sales for his new film MSG: The Messenger have fallen since the castration controversy became public.

In January the film opened to a world-record audience of over 150,000 at a public premiere in Gurgaon, a city just outside of Delhi.

The film supposedly shows Ram Rahim breaking a tree trunk with his bare hands and walking on air, among other miracles.

But according to reports in India, audiences have been so low at many cinemas Ram Rahim has been bulk buying tickets to improve box office returns.