Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/VarahaDas/Archive

Suspected sockpuppets
Vishwananda was nominated for deletion on 21 August by User:Shiva is love, after they spent some time trying to whitewash the subject but were opposed by other editors. Newly created User:Giro 194 votes to keep but remove negative information from the article, with a long list of reasons including bolded items and sources. This user's first two edits are to this AfD. User:VarahaDas, who may have a conflict of interest (see discussion at User talk:VarahaDas), also votes keep, using the same long type of comment with bolding and sources. User:Gino 194 was created just after I started questioning VarahaDas' COI. VD has now apparently recused himself from the article, with Gino 194 now taking exactly the same positions on the talk page as VarahaDas formerly argued, pinging me even though we have not had any direct interaction. From the redlinked users now editing the article, I suspect there are more socks, thus the checkuser request. Skyerise (talk) 12:13, 19 September 2023 (UTC) Skyerise (talk) 12:13, 19 September 2023 (UTC)

Well, there has been recruitment here, in a post boasting the subject's legal team prowess. Leave it to CU/Admin to sort it out. Skyerise (talk) 15:50, 19 September 2023 (UTC)

After observing behavior and responses, I'd say that: Skyerise (talk) 23:00, 27 September 2023 (UTC)
 * seems legit, not a puppetmaster.
 * and are WP:MEAT.
 * should probably be given the benefit of the doubt.

Comments by other users

 * Accused parties may also comment/discuss in this section below. See Defending yourself against claims.


 * Hi @Skyerise!
 * I've been tagging you on the AFD page since the beginning because I've encountered difficulties in making modifications to the article. I'm relatively new to Wikipedia, and you were the first to respond. I haven't received responses from the user Hanumandas, so it seems reaching out to you is my best course of action.
 * Could you please guide me on how I can provide my opinion on what's fair or not? I understand that using the Talk Page is the recommended method, as per Wikipedia's guidelines.
 * I'm simply requesting clarity because the information currently displayed on the page is incorrect, and I've provided sources where accurate information can be found.
 * I've noticed that despite the evident bias, the user Hanumandas is allowed to continue editing the article. I sincerely implore you to help ensure the article adheres to a Neutral Point of View (NPOV).
 * Thank you. Giro 194 (talk) 13:34, 19 September 2023 (UTC)
 * I myself went through the article with a fine-toothed comb. The current article is BOTH well-supported and NPOV, in my opinion. Skyerise (talk) 13:47, 19 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Giro 194 (talk) 18:26, 22 September 2023 (UTC)


 * @Skyerise I fixed the caps in one of your users in the template. Courcelles (talk) 17:53, 19 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Please review the details of the case. The Wikipedia user "hanumandas" changed his username to "I3manja". This user made a post on Reddit, seeking contributors for an article about the subject. Note the similarities between the arguments:
 * Text from Wikipedia's talk page by user I3manja (formerly hanumandas):
 * "They have also engaged expensive lawyers in efforts to remove any controversial content from the internet."
 * Recruitment post on Reddit regarding Vishwananda:
 * Paramahamsa Vishwananda of Bhakti Marga is attempting to have his Wikipedia page deleted. He has a powerful and well-funded legal team focused on silencing those he has allegedly abused.
 * Upon conducting an internet search about Vishwananda's legal team, these two instances appear to be closely related.
 * I came across the Reddit post and decided to contribute to the talk page, adhering to Wikipedia's guidelines.
 * Additionally, consider reviewing the page created by hanumandas about Vishwananda on the German Wikipedia, as well as entries about Bhakti Marga. This will provide insight into potential biases. It's noteworthy that this user hasn't been included in any Sockpuppet investigation and continues to contribute to the article.
 * Thank you. Giro 194 (talk) 22:34, 22 September 2023 (UTC)

Dear @Skyerise, I would hereby like to respond to your assumption of me being involved in any sockpuppet-situation. As I have told you before I am editing on Wikipedia because of an internship of my psychology master. If needed I can ask my mentor to give testimony to that. I have chosen to edit on Vishwanandas page because there is plenty of evidence that this subjects is represented in a false light. This is also the reason why I have felt the need to re-post previously posted information from another editor as I felt it did not receive the needed attention. Since you told me that I am too close to the subject to be allowed to continue editing, I have stopped and have therefore shifted my attention to other pages. This can be seen as another proof that I am not using a new account to continue editing on Vishwanandas page. This will get more obvious later when I will put more focus on my internship again and will edit much more with this account. Should you, or any other editor have more questions, I am happy to answer them. Best regards  — Preceding unsigned comment added by VarahaDas (talk • contribs) 21:45, 27 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Hello MarioGom,
 * the internship is part of my master education in the track "theory and history of psychology" in Groningen (NL). It is therefore not related to Vishwananda. Yes there are other editors in the internship but I am the only one who is still active as the others have already graduated some months ago while I have extended my program. I do not have any other accounts besides this one. 91.55.7.152 (talk) 18:23, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Clerk, CheckUser, and/or patrolling admin comments

 * I've got some geographic similarities between two of the accounts, some proxy use on the other, and some UA strangeness. Likely best to just punt this to behavior one way or the other. (And if there is  off-wiki nonsense, MEAT would apply, too.)  Courcelles (talk) 17:58, 19 September 2023 (UTC)
 * - : So you are editing as part of an internship? If that is the case, what kind of internship? Is it connected to Vishwananda? Do you have other accounts? Are other editors participating in this project? MarioGom (talk) 22:03, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
 * There doesn't seem to be a strong SPI case here. . MarioGom (talk) 20:26, 25 October 2023 (UTC)