Yoga Guru Gregorian Bivolaru Arrested in France on Serious Charges
Paris, CNN — French police took action this week, arresting renowned yoga guru Gregorian Bivolaru along with 41 others on grave allegations of kidnapping, rape, and human trafficking. The accusations involve an intricate scheme where individuals, drawn in by promises of spiritual enlightenment, were purportedly subjected to indoctrination and mental manipulation, ultimately leading to sexual relations with the 71-year-old Bivolaru.
The arrests occurred during targeted raids in Paris and various regions of France on Tuesday. Shockingly, 26 alleged victims were discovered living in deplorable conditions during these operations, according to a reliable judicial source.
Background and Allegations
Gregorian Bivolaru, already subject to an Interpol warrant, founded the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA) in Romania in 1990. Later, it gained international recognition as Atman – the International Federation of Yoga and Meditation, as per French prosecutors and Bivolaru’s website.
The allegations involve luring victims under the pretext of tantra yoga, a branch rooted in Hindu traditions that focuses on spiritual awakening through sexuality. Alleged victims claimed they were mentally manipulated into accepting “sexual relations designed to suppress any notion of consent regarding sexual relations,” according to a judicial source.
A year-long investigation, initiated in July 2022 after reports from former members reached a French non-governmental organization (NGO) called Human Rights League, led to these arrests. The NGO submitted reports to a government agency responsible for monitoring and analyzing cult movements in France.
Official Statements and Denials
MISA denied any wrongdoing when approached by CNN for comment. They claimed that Bivolaru had not founded Atman and had not taught yoga since 1995. A press release attributed to the Atman Federation’s board, posted on Atman’s website, condemned the arrests as “a slanderous witch-hunt against genuine spirituality.”
The MISA Yoga School, in another press release on Atman’s website, described the French school involved in the raids as part of the Atman network but emphasized its independence with a separate management structure.
Legal Proceedings and International Ramifications
Bivolaru and others appeared in court on Friday, as reported by AFP, where Bivolaru reportedly asserted he was “the victim of a political plot.” The legal proceedings involve a judicial investigation into allegations of abuse of vulnerable persons by a sect member, kidnapping, rape, and human trafficking.
Gregorian Bivolaru’s legal history includes a conviction in Romania in 2013 for raping a minor, resulting in a six-year prison sentence served partially. He was later extradited from France in 2016. Additionally, he is currently on Interpol’s ‘wanted’ list for criminal charges of aggravated trafficking in human beings in Finland.
This case marks the latest chapter in a series of serious charges against Bivolaru, with international implications given the scope of his yoga network’s influence and activities. The arrests and ensuing legal proceedings have brought to light disturbing details surrounding the alleged exploitation of individuals seeking spiritual guidance.
Maya Szaniecki reported from Paris, and Sophie Tanno reported from and wrote in London.
