A CONTROVERSIAL yoga guru who is due to hold a mass yoga event in Scotland was yesterday allowed to stay in the UK after being detained by immigration officials.

Swami Ramdev Ji, 47, pictured, is to lead a 1500-strong free yoga class at the Emirates Arena, in Dalmarnock, Glasgow tomorrow night.

But he was stopped at Heathrow Airport as he arrived in the UK from India on Friday night and detained for around eight hours, before being issued with a 24-hour visa.

His supporters feared he would be thrown out of the country, but after meeting with officials yesterday he was allowed to stay. More than 150 supporters turned up at the airport to back him.

Ramdev Ji, also known as Baba Ramdev, reportedly has an 85 million-strong worldwide following, and has amassed a fortune through his yoga and medicine empire, which includes his own TV channel in India.

Two years ago, a trust run by Ramdev Ji bought the island of Little Cumbrae off southwest Scotland and established it as a yoga centre. In the same year he was arrested when he attempted to start a hunger strike against corruption in Delhi.

But the guru has also sparked controversy, reportedly claiming his yoga techniques can cure HIV, cancer and homosexuality.