A prominent Indian yoga guru, Baba Ramdev, was arrested on Monday as he led an anti-corruption demonstration in central Delhi, the Times of India reported.
Holding a national flag, Ramdev hopped into an open vehicle near Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi shortly after 1 p.m. local time and drove toward the Parliament, where he was planning to stage a protest against corruption and “black money” hidden abroad by the wealthy. He was soon joined by thousands of his supporters, the report said.
Ten minutes later, the activist and television celebrity who is known for leading a similar mass gathering in Delhi last year, was detained. Police said the demonstrators did not have permission to march.
Ramdev accused the police of being a “puppet in the hands of the central government,” which he says has failed to curb corruption in the country.
Ramdev and his supporters have staged protests in central Delhi since Thursday.
Last year, the yoga guru was hospitalized after leading his supporters on a six-day-long “fast protest” against corruption in Delhi, during which he demanded the introduction of the death penalty for bribe-takers.
