ISKCON Nepal Crisis: GBC Official’s Suspension Rejected, Media Threatened With Legal Action

ISKCON Nepal has published two press releases on its official Facebook page concerning a suspension notice issued by Revati Raman Das against office bearers of the ISKCON Nepal Executive Committee and other devotees. The first, in English, is dated 4 Ashwin 2083 (20 September 2026) and was issued pursuant to the decision of the ISKCON Nepal General Assembly held that day. The second, in Nepali, is dated 7 Asoj 2083 and is titled “Further Clarification of the ISKCON Nepal General Assembly.”

Press Release: 4 Ashwin 2083 (20 September 2026)

Pursuant to the decision of the General Assembly of this institution held today, 4 Ashwin 2083, we state that although the ISKCON Nepal Executive Committee has already taken necessary action regarding the criminal case concerning offences against children pending before the Hon’ble Kathmandu District Court, Revati Raman Das (Mahal Govindaiah Ramesh), an Indian national serving as an Advisor to the National Council of this institution, issued a purported suspension notice dated 29 Bhadra 2083 against office bearers of the ISKCON Nepal Executive Committee and other devotees.

As a non-Nepali citizen, Revati Raman Das has no authority to unlawfully interfere in the affairs of a religious NGO registered with the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, under the prevailing laws of Nepal. His purported action is also contrary to Sections 9.4.7–8 and 12.3 of the ISKCON Constitution and Sections 5.5.5 and 8.1.2 of the ISKCON Law Book, which constitute the international standards of ISKCON established in accordance with the instructions of its Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Furthermore, the purported notice was issued unilaterally without discussion with the Governing Body Commission (GBC) body, and included the name of our revered spiritual master, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja, despite his prolonged ill health and without obtaining his authorization. Such conduct has caused serious confusion and reputational harm to the office bearers and devotees of ISKCON Nepal.

Accordingly, the purported suspension notice issued by Indian National, Revati Raman Das is considered illegal and invalid, and we publicly demand that he provide a satisfactory written apology and clarification within 24 hours. Failing such satisfactory response, he will be requested to immediately resign from his position as Advisor to the National Council and from all activities associated with ISKCON Nepal. The matter, together with the details of his alleged illegal actions, will also be brought to the attention of the ISKCON GBC Body for appropriate consideration.

We further strongly object to recent reports published through various media alleging sexual misconduct by office bearers and devotees of this institution. Such allegations have not been established through any lawful investigation or judicial proceeding and, to the extent they are presented as established facts, are unsupported and misleading. We strongly condemn the publication of material that unfairly harms the reputation of the concerned office bearers and devotees and urge the public not to be misled by such reports. Necessary legal action will be initiated concerning such misleading publications.

– ISKCON Nepal General Assembly

Further Clarification: 7 Asoj 2083

In this Nepali-language press release, the ISKCON Nepal General Assembly states that ISKCON Nepal follows a policy of zero tolerance toward violence against children and has repeatedly committed to no cover-up; that, as the case concerning alleged beating and abuse of children in the gurukula is pending in court, it is awaiting the legal outcome; and that the General Assembly has declared legally invalid the suspension decision taken unilaterally by Revati Raman Das, whom it describes as GBC Zonal Secretary, while its loyalty and respect toward the law of the country and the GBC body remain unchanged. The full text follows:

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति
इस्कोन नेपाल साधारण सभाको थप स्पष्टीकरण
२०८३ असोज ७

यस संस्थाको मिति २०८३ असोज ४ गते बसेको वैधानिक साधारण सभाबाट भएका निर्णय तथा संस्थासँग जोडेर विभिन्न भ्रमपूर्ण समाचारहरू प्रचार-प्रसार भइरहेको प्रति हाम्रो गम्भीर ध्यानाकर्षण भएको छ। इस्कोन नेपाल बालबालिकामाथि हुने हिंसाका सम्बन्धमा शून्य सहनशीलताको नीति अवलम्बन गर्ने संस्था हो। संस्थाले कुनै पनि प्रकारको ढाकछोप नगर्ने प्रतिबद्धता पटक-पटक सार्वजनिक गर्दै आएको छ। यस सम्बन्धमा हामीले कानुनसम्मत प्रक्रियालाई सदैव साथ दिँदै आएका छौँ र यसअघि नै आधिकारिक रूपमा आफ्नो धारणा व्यक्त गरिसकेका छौँ। गुरुकुलमा बालबालिकामाथि कुटपिट तथा दुर्व्यवहार भएको आरोपसम्बन्धी मुद्दा अदालतमा विचाराधीन रहेको हुँदा हामीले कानुनी निष्कर्षको प्रतीक्षा गरेका छौँ। हाम्रो संस्थाका संस्थापकाचार्य श्री श्रीमद् अभयचरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपादले दिनुभएका उपदेशहरू, इस्कोनका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय नीति-नियम तथा जिविसी निकायका सल्लाहलाई समेत कानुनसम्मत रूपमा पालना गर्दै आएका छौँ। इस्कोन नेपाल नेपालको कानुनबमोजिम गैरसरकारी संस्थाका रूपमा स्थापना भएको संस्था भएकाले नेपालको प्रचलित कानुनको अक्षरशः पालना गर्नु हाम्रो कर्तव्य हो। नेपालको संविधान तथा प्रचलित कानुनी व्यवस्थाअनुसार नेपालमा दर्ता भएको गैरसरकारी संस्थाको आन्तरिक प्रशासन तथा सञ्चालनमा वैदेशिक हस्तक्षेपको परिकल्पना नभएको र सोलाई गैरकानुनी मानिने प्रावधान भएको तर यसै सन्दर्भमा, जिविसी क्षेत्रीय सचिवको रुपमा रहेका रेवती रमण दासले नेपालको कानुन, इस्कोनका अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय नीति-नियम तथा जिविसी निकायको आधारभुत प्रावधानलाई समेत बेवास्ता गर्दै एकलौटी रूपमा गरेको निलम्बनसम्बन्धी निर्णयलाई यस साधारण सभाले कानुनी रूपमा अमान्य ठहर गरेको भएपनि देशको कानुन तथा जिविसी निकायप्रतिको हाम्रो निष्ठा र सम्मान यथावत् रहेको स्पष्ट गर्दछौँ।

-इस्कोन नेपाल साधारण सभा

Sources

• ISKCON Nepal press release, 4 Ashwin 2083 (English) – ISKCON Nepal on Facebook
• इस्कोन नेपाल साधारण सभाको थप स्पष्टीकरण, 2083 असोज ७ (Nepali) – ISKCON Nepal on Facebook