Eleven corpses were found in coffins when police raided a temple of a cult in Chaiyaphum on Sunday.
The temple was in a house on public land in Khon San district.
It was raided by local officials and police.
They were acting on information provided by Jeeraphan Phetkhao, alias Mor Pla, a local figure who has led authorities to catch many monks alleged to have indulged in sexual and other misconduct.
Officials detained the alleged cult leader, an old man with long white hair and a beard. He was later identified by reporters as Tawee Nanra, 75.
Coffins containing 11 corpses were found on the premises.
Cult followers said the bodies were brought there for rituals to send them to heaven. When asked for the death certificates, they could show the papers for only five of them.
Police said the place had been opened by a group of people belonging to a cult spreading superstitious beliefs. The cult leader also treated his followers for various diseases. The treatments included telling them to drink his urine, excrement, phlegm and dandruff.
