Edamaruku, founder of the Rationalist International, became known in his homeland for travelling around villages in an effort to prove that alleged miracles proclaimed by various holy men were actually scams.

In 2012, he was charged with blasphemy following complaints from Catholic organisations after he showed that an alleged miracle of water dripping from a crucifix in a Mumbai church was actually the result of a leak from a nearby sewage pipe.

Edamaruku has since 2020 been subject to an Interpol red notice, which seeks his detention and extradition back to India.

However, that warrant relates not to the blasphemy charge but to separate accusations – made by an Indian government employee, according to the Times of India – that Edamaruku cheated a woman out of money by making false promises that he could provide a Finnish visa.