Dongargarh, India — For years, Tarun Agarwal, known by many as “Sonu Baba,” welcomed people from across the world into his peaceful yoga retreats. He wore saffron robes, spoke of inner peace, and claimed to heal troubled souls through ancient Indian practices.
But that peaceful image was shattered this week when police raided his sprawling farmhouse in the quiet town of Dongargarh, central India. What they found shocked even seasoned investigators: over 2 kilograms of cannabis, sex toys, prescription narcotics, and hidden surveillance equipment.
Authorities now believe Agarwal’s so-called ashram was actually the center of an elaborate international drug and sex racket.
The Arrest That Shocked a Town
On June 25, 2025, a large police team arrived at the gates of Agarwal’s ₹6-crore farmhouse, which sits near the popular spiritual hill of Pragya Giri. The location had become a magnet for foreign tourists in recent months, many of whom came for what were advertised as “peace camps” and “wellness retreats.”
Police officers say they had been tracking Agarwal for months, based on tips about strange activities involving foreign nationals. Upon searching the premises, they seized cannabis, erectile dysfunction pills, narcotic injections, and high-end surveillance devices used to monitor his guests.
Videos recovered from the site showed foreign women participating in alleged “spiritual programs” that investigators now believe were a front for illegal activities.
FCRF x CERT-In Roll Out National Cyber Crisis Management Course to Prepare India’s Digital Defenders
A Long Trail from Goa to Chhattisgarh
Tarun Agarwal is no newcomer to India’s spiritual tourism scene. For nearly 20 years, he operated in Goa—one of the country’s most popular destinations for yoga retreats. He ran multiple centers, partnered with international NGOs, and portrayed himself as an “international yoga ambassador.”
However, sources say he left Goa two years ago, possibly to avoid scrutiny from growing drug enforcement crackdowns in the region. That’s when he bought land in Dongargarh and built his new retreat.
Police are now investigating his operations in Goa to understand whether similar illegal activities occurred there as well.
A Web of Foreign Links and Financial Mystery
Agarwal’s lifestyle raised questions even before the raid. He claimed to run non-profit spiritual organizations, but was frequently seen driving luxury cars and organizing lavish parties for foreign guests. Investigators say he received funds from overseas under the pretext of spiritual education and yoga tourism.
Now, multiple government agencies are working together to trace his financial records, foreign travels, NGO licenses, and visa arrangements for his international guests. Officials suspect violations of India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and possible links to international drug networks.
FCRF x CERT-In Roll Out National Cyber Crisis Management Course to Prepare India’s Digital Defenders
A Wake-Up Call for India’s Spiritual Tourism
The case has sparked nationwide debate about the darker side of India’s booming wellness and spiritual retreat industry. While thousands of genuine centers exist, law enforcement officials say a growing number of fake gurus are exploiting the system.
Goa, where Agarwal made his name, has already been under scrutiny for similar cases involving illegal rave parties, LSD networks, and misuse of yoga centers. This latest bust from Dongargarh has prompted calls for stronger monitoring of such retreats, especially those catering to foreign clients.
For now, Tarun Agarwal remains in judicial custody as police continue questioning him and examining data from seized mobile phones and CCTV footage.
“He talked about peace and healing,” said one local resident who had visited the retreat. “Now it feels like the whole thing was a lie.