Ma Anand Sheela
Indian-born Swiss woman (born 1949) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ma Anand Sheela (born 28 December 1949 as Sheela Ambalal Patel in India, also known as Sheela Birnstiel and Sheela Silverman)[2] is an Indian-Swiss woman who was the spokesperson of the Rajneesh movement (aka Osho movement). In 1986, she was convicted for attempted murder and assault for her role in the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack.
Ma Anand Sheela | |
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Born | Sheela Ambalal Patel (1949-12-28) 28 December 1949 (age 74) |
Nationality | India, Switzerland |
Other names | Sheela Silverman, Sheela Birnstiel |
Known for | 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack |
Title | Personal Secretary to Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh |
Term | 1981–1985 |
Movement | Rajneesh (Osho) |
Criminal status | Sentence served |
Criminal charge | Attempted Murder Second-degree assault Illegal wire-tapping Arson Immigration fraud |
Penalty | 4 and a half years' prison[1] |
As the secretary of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh from 1981 through 1985, she managed the Rajneeshpuram ashram in Wasco County, Oregon, United States.[3] In 1986, she pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault for her role in the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack.[4] She received a four and a half year sentence in July 1986 in federal prison. She was released for good behaviour and deported to West Germany after 29 months.[1] Sheela later moved to Switzerland, where she married, and purchased two nursing homes. In 1999, she was convicted by a Swiss court of "criminal acts preparatory to the commission of murder" in relation to a plot to kill US federal prosecutor Charles Turner in 1985, and she was sentenced to time served.[5]