Ed. Note: The following is a news release courtesy of the Torrance Police Department.
A 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, according to Torrance Police Department officials.
Sponsored Articles
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 on 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.
Nanda is expected to appear in court on August 25 for a preliminary hearing setting, said District Attorney officials.
Anyone with information related to this case is advised to contact the Torrance Police Department Detective Division at (310) 618-5570.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.
I don’t believe this to be true!! I have been coming here since the store opened in SCV and Goku is a very welcoming kind person!!