A self-proclaimed godman and his family members were booked for kidnapping a middle-aged woman and confining her illegally inside his ashram.

The Times of India reports that despite repeated pleas by her husband to release her, the godman did not allow her to leave, police said.

Melavalavu police registered a case based on the husband’s complaint, rescued the woman, produced her before a judicial magistrate and sent her with her husband.

The accused were identified as Sathish Gurudev, his father Jeyaraj, his unnamed mother and younger brother. Police said Gurudev was running an ashram at Uppodaipatti village.

J Amirtharaj in his complaint said that Gurudev and his family members forced his wife Devi to visit the ashram.

She was illegally confined in the ashram since February 18.

Based on the complaint, police arrested the accused and booked them under various Sections of IPC including kidnapping, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation.