Reports from former members prompted the Paris public prosecutor’s office to refer the case to the Central Office for Repression of Violence Against People (OCRVP) in 2022.
A judicial investigation was started in July 2023, leading to the recent arrests.
Victims Speak Out
Numerous women from different nationalities have come forward, claiming victimization by the MISA organization and its leader.
The victims allege mental manipulation and coercion into accepting non-consensual sexual relations, all under the pretext of spiritual awakening.
MISA Denies Responsibility
MISA vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that Bivolaru has not been associated with Atman or taught yoga since 1995.
A press release from the Atman Federation, posted on their website, characterizes the arrests as a “slanderous witch-hunt against genuine spirituality.”
The organization claims that the French school involved in the scandal operates as an independent entity within the Atman network.
