In lap of luxury, Ram Rahim owns sprawling business empire

New Delhi: From a successful entrepreneur to becoming 'Messenger of God', Dera chief Ram Rahim has charted a path which would make others envious.

His sharp business acumen has propelled him to build a vast business empire which stretches from cosmetics, schools, hospitals and confectioneries to films.

Besides offering a variety of products like shampoos, hair oil, grocery items, clothes and batteries, mostly under the brand name MSG, his quasi-religious cult Dera Sacha Sauda also reportedly runs 11 schools and two colleges.

The group also has confectionery factories on the outskirts of Sirsa in Haryana, the Hindustan Times reported citing the Dera website.

Ram Rahim, who studied only up to the 10th standard, debuted in his 2014 film “Messenger of God” or MSG, which he co-produced, directed and acted in. And since then, he reportedly directed and appeared as the hero in four films.

A fifth movie was slated to be released later this year.

The Dera claims that all his films crossed the Rs 100-crore mark.

The confectionery factories, housed in his sprawling Dera headquarters in Sirsa, produces biscuits, toffees and other products.

According to the website, the MSG All Trading International Pvt Ltd, a Dera Sacha Sauda firm, launched 151 products, including food items, last year.

The group also runs three hospitals including an Ayurveda centre in Sirsa.

The educational institutes are in Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

“Though nominal amounts are charged for the services in hospitals and schools, this is mostly charitable work,” HT quoted a Dera supporter as saying.

Ram Rahim was convicted by a CBI court in Panchkula on Friday in a 2002 rape case. The conviction triggered widespread violence in which 28 people were killed and over 200 others were injured.