An eight-year-old boy is facing a legal complaint over claims that he is the reincarnated son of the Lord Buddha who possesses magical powers to "connect people's minds".
A complaint was filed with the Central Investigation Bureau against "Nong Nice" and eight other people who manage Nong Nice's "mind connection" office and website on Monday.
The complaint was filed by a number of high-profile social critics.
They also called for a reform of the law governing the Sangha Council — the governing body of Thailand's Buddhist order — to rein in those who distort the teachings of the Lord Buddha.
The complainants said the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) must act promptly to investigate the "mind connection" office and people who run it, saying they were spreading false information to the general public.
One complainant, a lawyer, said the CIB has been asked to investigate if Nong Nice and other individuals associated with the sect committed fraud.
He said the boy's parents are likely to be behind the scheme, telling people that Nong Nice was the son of Lord Buddha in his previous life, and has miraculous powers associated with the naga, a giant serpent in Thai mythology.
He also attacked the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for not doing enough to stop Nong Nice from engaging in questionable acts.
Another complainant said a number of victims have come forth to expose the scheme but the police, the NOB and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security have failed to take any action, he said.
One of the victims said he attended the course on mind connection and learned it was a sham.
