Gurmeet Ram Rahim also stars in action movie MSG: Messenger of God in which he fights criminals, sings songs and douses himself in water in slow motion after a rugby game. Photo: AFP

Indian police said they are investigating a popular self-styled godman for allegedly encouraging 400 followers to undergo castrations at his ashram so they could get closer to god.

The country's top crime fighting agency has registered a case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, known as the "guru in bling" for his penchant for garish clothes and jewellery, over the operations in the country's north.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Rahim is being investigated for criminal intimidation and causing grievous bodily hurt, after 400 castrations were allegedly carried out.

The guru, who heads the Dera Sacha Sauda organisation based in Haryana state, is already facing trial for conspiracy over the murder of a journalist in 2002 along with claims of sexually exploiting female followers.

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The latest case was filed after one of his devotees, Hans Raj Chauhan, lodged a complaint in court alleging he was manipulated into having the "painful" operation at the ashram.

"They were told that only those who get castrated will be able to meet god," Chauhan's lawyer, Navkiran Singh, said on Thursday.

"We will put all the facts of the case to the court and seek compensation for the victims."

He said doctors carried out the castrations over a period from 2000, but for years his client had been too scared to come forward.

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Indian 'guru in bling' allegedly encouraged the castration of 400 followers