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Updated: May 07, 2019 09:31 IST

Self-proclaimed spiritual guru Anand Giri has been arrested in Sydney for allegedly sexually assaulting two women in their homes during prayer meetings in the Australian city.

Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad president Narendra Giri confirmed the arrest of Anand Giri on Sunday over alleged charges of sexual assault. Anand Giri is a mahant at the renowned Bade Hanuman temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

The 38-year-old was arrested from a house in Oxley Park area of Sydney at around 12.35am on Sunday, the Daily Mail reported. He was on a six-week tour of Australia and scheduled to return to India on Monday.

The Daily Mail reported that Anand Giri assaulted the first woman at her residence in Rooty Hill of Sydney West in 2016, where he was called to pray on New Year. Australian police said Anand Giri assaulted the 29-year-old woman in her bedroom.

Two years later, he was invited for a night-long prayer at another house in November 2018. Anand Giri and the 34-year-old woman were praying in the lounge in her home when he made indecent advances towards her. He knew both the women, Sydney Police said.

Anand Giri was taken to Riverstone police station of Sydney and he appeared before Paramatta Courtin saffron (orange) robes. He was charged with two counts of indecently assaulting the two women.

He was denied bail by Paramatta Court and remanded to further custody to reappear before Mt Druitt Local Court on June 26, 2019.

Narendra Giri said both the women complained to police that Anand Giri touched them without their permission. He said the women belong to south India and even visited the Kumbh Mela earlier this year. However, they had a tiff with Anand Giri on his recent visit to Australia over some issue, following which they accused him of acting indecently.

“Our people in Australia are in contact with authorities and a bail application has again been filed, the hearing on which has been fixed for Wednesday. We will also seek the help of the Indian embassy in Australia and the ministry of foreign affairs if necessary,” Narendra Giri said.