Guru Seized, Ousted by Greece : Police Take Rajneesh in Raid on Cretan Clifftop Villa

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the Indian guru ousted from the United States four months ago, was arrested today and ordered out of Greece after 3 1/2 weeks of preaching free love, inveighing against the Greek Orthodox Church and calling the nation’s rulers “idiots.”

Followers of the guru said more than 20 Greek police smashed windows to break into the luxurious clifftop villa while the guru was taking an afternoon nap.

“They gave no reason for the arrest. They just burst into bhagwan’s room and took him away. They also took his lawyer” and two other disciples, said a follower who identified herself only as Franghid.

Orthodox churches rang their bells to celebrate the arrests while hundreds of the guru’s followers danced through the streets of the small seaside resort to “give energy” to their spiritual leader.

Netherlands or Spain

Olympic Airways, the state carrier, said Rajneesh will be flown from Athens there to an as-yet-unknown destination. Followers of the guru said he may be flown to the Netherlands or Spain.

A local police spokesman said the government ordered the expulsion of the 54-year-old guru, who arrived on this southern Aegean island Feb. 15 from Nepal.

“We had a signal from the Ministry of Public Order ordering us to pick him up prior to his being deported. There was no specific charge given,” the spokesman said.

He said Rajneesh’s one-month residence permit is due to expire March 15.

The guru had been criticized by the Greek Orthodox Church, which denounced him as “a public menace” and threatened to stone his followers for allegedly taking part in sex orgies. And the Orthodox Synod said Rajneesh’s presence in Greece violates a clause in the Greek constitution that forbids proselytizing.

Bishop’s Warning

Metropolitan Dimitris of Petra, the local bishop, warned Sunday that “blood will flow” if the guru were allowed to remain on Crete.

Premier Andreas Papandreou’s Socialist government granted permission for Rajneesh to come to Greece on the first leg of what his followers called a world tour to visit an estimated 500,000 disciples.

In twice-daily “discourses” to his followers, the guru preached against the Greek church and said Greece is ruled by “idiots.” About 450 of the guru’s disciples have been staying in hotels near Aghios Nicolaos for the last two weeks to attend the “discourses” for four hours daily.

Rajneesh left his central Oregon commune and returned to India in November after he pleaded guilty to two charges of immigration fraud. He was placed on probation, fined $400,000 and was ordered to leave the United States.