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March 19
1875, 1:35PM - Outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez hanged in San Jose [story]
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swamiA Santa Clarita business owner is facing multiple counts of sexual assault charges after he allegedly assaulted female clients in the Torrance and Santa Clarita areas while posing as a Swami.

Gokula Nanda, 62, was arrested by the Torrance Police Department May 13 for multiple counts of felony sexual assault by fraud that had occurred in Torrance and Santa Clarita this year, according to a news release.

Nanda owned and operated the Hari-Om India Market in the 20600 block of Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita before his arrest, according to officials. He claimed to be a Swami, or a Hindu monk, and also offered fortune-telling, healing and counseling services at his store.

Nanda is alleged to have sexually assaulted female clients under the fraudulent representation that the sexual contacts were part of his spiritual rituals.

The Torrance Police Department officials subsequently learned that Nanda was the subject of investigations with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for similar offenses dating back to 2005.

Additional charges were added in relation to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigation.

Nanda was arraigned in Torrance court on July 15 and was formally charged with nine counts of sexual battery, sexual battery by fraud and sexual penetration by fraud.

Nanda is currently released on a $100,000 bond pending further court proceedings.

Anyone with information related to this case is advised to contact the Torrance Police Department Detective Division at (310) 618-5570.

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42 Comments

  1. Gary Wanjon Gary Wanjon says:

    Don’t worry the jails will fix this joker!!!

  2. Chet Mehra Chet Mehra says:

    Hard to believe! He seemed like the nicest guy. He runs the local Indian Store on Canyon Country!

  3. Julian Mirza Julian Mirza says:

    Wait is that the guy from the store?? Next to the old Muay Thai gym???? I used to get fresh coconuts there!!

  4. I almost don’t want to hear about these type of post.

  5. Ryan Connor Ryan Connor says:

    Kev Sucka this is right in your hood

  6. Everyone avoid this place.

    Nanda owned and operated the Hari-Om India Market in the 20600 block of Soledad Canyon Road in Santa Clarita before his arrest, according to officials. He claimed to be a Swami, or a Hindu monk, and also offered fortune-telling, healing and counseling services at his store.

  7. OMG Khurram Siddiqui!!!!!!!

  8. Interesting story… wow, right at our doorstep. Hmmm.

  9. What?,He seemed nice…Wow!!! Scary

  10. Omg I was approached by this guy!!! I was walking out of whole food. He followed me to my car. He said his name was “mr yoga” amd he wanted to read my palm. He jumped in my car and wouldn’t get out. He wanted 200.00!!!! I couldn’t get him out of my car!!!! I’m freaked out!

  11. John Gilbert John Gilbert says:

    Didn’t he sell Kool-Aid outside of Trader Joe’s?

  12. Omg!! I know this man. I use to work with him years ago!!! Was always a nice monk…lol. I use to giggle when he would brush ants of his work station because he didnt want to kill them. WOW!!

  13. Lol I was behind this guy in Sam’s Club a few weeks back. He looked like a strange cat.

  14. ???? psychos come in all shades & sizes!

  15. What the heck is a swami!? ?

  16. Glad he’s off the streets. Very strange.

  17. Yeah, he’s got swami written all over him….

  18. Sunny Lewis Sunny Lewis says:

    Sounds like that dude watched the love guru a few too many times

  19. summer wilson says:

    i went to him for reading and brought my staff and refered my clients he was so helpful to me but he obviously abused his talents

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