'Guru' faces having £4million Highland castle seized to pay off debts

Self-styled guru Mark Koppikar is battling eviction from a Scottish castle used as a retreat (Image: Mark Koppikar/Facebook)

A self-styled guru who set up a healing retreat at a £4million castle in the Scottish Highlands is locked in a battle to remain there. Shanti Mark Koppikar reportedly bought the listed castle on the Ardnamurchan peninsula for £3.75m in 2022.

It is used as a centre of reflection for followers of the "Guru of Glenborrodale" who is described on his website as a spiritual teacher of German-Indian origin initiated into Shamanism in 1997.

He offers retreats in Scotland, India, Italy, Croatia and Portugal where customers can find "inner stillness" and "wake up" from the "trance" of a "mind-based way of life".

Mr Koppikar, 57, is battling to keep the castle over debts of £2,994,732 to Rain Dance Investments, which holds security over the property, according to the Daily Mail.

The same publication reports that administrators were appointed last year to oversee Mr Koppikar's company, Shanti Estates, and now want to "obtain vacant possession" of the castle and put it on the market.

Administrator Brian Milne told the Mail he has invited the occupants to enter into an agreement to leave the castle voluntarily on a mutually agreed date, but they have failed to enter into such an agreement.

He said: "I am currently in the process of submitting applications, via the various routes available to me, to have the occupants ordered to provide me with vacant possession of the castle by the relevant authorities."

Mr Koppikar told the Mail: "Unfortunately, we are not permitted to comment at the moment, as per the rules of administration."

Glenborrodale is now worth £3.9m, according to the Mail, which cited administrators for the figure.

Mark Koppikar reportedly likes Versace designer clothes and has driven a Maserati (Image: Mark Koppikar/Facebook)

Mr Koppikar's followers have launched a £100,000 fundraising scheme to make sure the place "remains a beacon of spirituality". A total of £3,864 has been raised so far.

Part of the "shanti's" aim is to prove it is possible to be happy with or without money. He has said in the past that he was poor for a long time.

The "spiritual teacher" is said to favour designer brand Versace and to have driven a Maserati sports car.

Express.co.uk has approached Mr Koppikar and Rain Dance Investments via Ardnamurchan Estates. The Mail said Rain Dance Investments declined to comment.