Guru Heads For Himalayas; 3,000 Disciples Remain
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RAJNEESHPURAM, Ore. — Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, banished from the United States for five years and fined $400,000 for immigration fraud, flew toward a Himalayan hideaway Friday, leaving behind about 3,000 followers who vowed to continue his work at the commune he founded four years ago.
The 53-year-old guru flew out of Oregon Thursday night after pleading guilty in Portland to two felony counts of federal immigration fraud. He was given a 10-year suspended sentence, fined and ordered deported.
Disciples in New Delhi said the guru was due to arrive there early today to switch planes again for the final leg of his journey to an undisclosed location in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India.
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