ALBUQUERQUE, USA: Two former American women members of the Sikh Dharma Brotherhood have accused Yogi Bhajan Singh, its founder, of being a fraud and filed a $4 million suit against him in a local court.
Pam Dyson alias Sardarni Premka Kaur, and Katherine Felt, former Secretary-general and Secretary, respectively, of the Brotherhood, have alleged that the Yogi has used Sikhism for personal gains, their lawsuit alleges dozens ‘Of abuses which the women say, ‘occurred while they lived in Espanola, the Yogi’s ranch near here. The allegations range from the theft of a commercially valuable cookie recipe and repeated sexual assaults,
‘Yogi Bhajan Singh has denied the allegations and in turn has filed ‘case against Mr. Pritam Singh, a rich Sikh businessman of Florida, saying that he has financed the lawsuit 0 gain control of the Brotherhood.
‘The Yogi formed the Brotherhood as the religious arm of the organization and the Healthy Happy Holy Organization (HHO) as the educational arm in 1968.
‘The women have charged that they were the victims of a “covert and elaborate” thought reform process devised by the Yogi. Using meditation yoga, difficult body exercise and special diet, he was able to manipulate their mind to make them dependent on him, they allege,
Katherine Felt claims she turned over her ideas for beauty products, health food, candy bars and Cookie recipes to the Yogi for use by the organization, she alleges that he has failed to fulfill his promise to give her a percentage of the profits; she joined the Yogi when she was 14.
Once under the influence, the plaintiffs claim, the Yogi also solicited their money and time and ‘used them for sex.
The other defendants are the Yogi’s wife, Bibiji Kaur Khalsa alias Shakti Parwha Kaur Khalsa, a Director of HHO, and Guru Ke Kaur Khalsa, a Brotherhood officer.
The suit also challenges the religious background of 57yearold Bhajan Singh, who came to
Los Angeles from Punjab in 1968 and began the American version Jof Sikhism. It alleges that the Yogi came to the USA. Not under divine inspiration, but to accumulate wealth and acquire power by posing as a master of yoga and a religious leader.
‘The Yogi established the Brotherhood as a vehicle for sheltering personal property and wealth from State and Federal taxation and creditors, the women allege.
‘The religious fraud lawsuit against the Yogi is believed to be the first of its kind involving the Sikhs, say lawyers from both sides. The legal debate over whether they should be dismissed has evoked constitutional questions. Even Thomas Jefferson has been quoted,
The Yogi’s lawyers claim the suit should be dismissed because it tramples on First Amendment safeguards given to religions. “The First Amendments applicable because the plaintiffs have put the issue of validity of the Sikh religion into question”, says the Yogi’s lawyer, Mr. Thomas Bird.
Mr. Peter Beograd’s, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, says the charges are seculars they are aimed at a religious figure not a religion.
Lawyers say that it could take up to five years for the case to go on trial.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 4, 1987
