USHINOR MAJUMDAR.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Author, Outlook, Tehelka, Hindustan Times; Penguin Random House India

Delhi

“Ushinor Majumdar is an award-winning investigative journalist and author who wrote 'God of Sin: The Cult, Clout and Downfall of Asaram Bapu'. Majumdar faced extensive online harassment and legal challenges from Asaram's followers for exposing the cult's financial fraud and violent tactics.”

Ushinor Majumdar is an experienced Indian journalist who has worked with leading news organizations including *Outlook*, *Tehelka*, and the *Hindustan Times*. Specializing in investigative reporting, Majumdar spent years analyzing the rapid growth of Asaram Bapu's empire, focusing on how the cult acquired land, managed finance, and cultivated political connections to protect itself from criminal prosecution. His work culminated in the publication of his definitive investigative book, 'God of Sin: The Cult, Clout and Downfall of Asaram Bapu', published by Penguin Random House in 2018.

The book provides a detailed account of Asaram's early life, his split from Lilashah's ashram in Gandhidham, and the establishment of the Motera gurukul. Majumdar used court filings, police charge sheets, and seized financial records to detail how the cult built a Rs 10,000 crore empire through land encroachment, illegal lending, and tax evasion. He also documented the systematic witness intimidation campaign, detailing the activities of Kartik Haldar and the ashram's covert operational cells.

Following the announcement of the book, Asaram's followers and legal representatives launched multiple campaigns to block its publication. They filed petitions in local courts seeking a ban on the book, claiming it was defamatory and would prejudice Asaram's pending appeals. Majumdar and his publishers successfully defended the book in court, and the legal challenges were dismissed. During this period, Majumdar was subjected to severe online trolling, death threats, and harassment from the godman's devotees.

Majumdar's reporting has been widely recognized for its depth and accuracy, serving as a key reference for subsequent documentaries, including the 2025 discovery+ docuseries 'Cult of Fear', in which he appeared as an expert analyst. He continues to work as an independent journalist and author in Delhi, focusing on investigative stories related to religious cults, financial crime, and the criminal justice system in India.