Bangalore, Jun 23 (DHNS): The High Court of Karnataka on Friday granted an interim stay on the police investigation against self-styled godman Nithyananda in connection with the alleged incidents of violence incidents at his Bidadi ashram.
Nithyananda had moved the Court challenging the first information reports registered by the Bidadi police. He had sought for quashing of the two FIRs against him.
During the hearing, C V Nagesh, the counsel for Nithyananda, submitted that the latter was not involved in any violence at the Asharm. However, the FIR does not name any other person except Nithyananda, even though he was not present at the scene.
He pointed out that the FIR does not disclose the names of 50 devotees the police refer to in the report.
Justice Subhash B Adi questioned the government counsel on not mentioning the names of devotees in the FIR.
The judge pointed out that there was no information in the FIR on the weapons used for assault, as alleged in the complaint.
The counsel replied that the case was being investigated and the names of devotees involved in the violence would be found out.
The judge also noted that the address column of the complaints only mentioned ‘Bangalore City, Karnataka.’ He sought to know the residential address of the complaints and their whereabouts.
The counsel for Nithyananda further alleged that some vested interests were behind the complaint and termed the investigation a malafide action. He alleged that the
complaints do not bear the signatures of the complainants.
The Court, while ordering notice to the complainants, granted an interim stay on investigation against Nithyananda.
CID probe sought
Sethu Madhava Rao, father of Arati Rao, the alleged victim of sexual abuse by Nithyananda, on Friday demanded that a thorough inquiry needs to be conducted by the CID regarding the activities in Dhyanapeetham ashram in Bidadi.
A complaint filed by Arati in 2010, is still pending with CID, he said.
Speaking to mediapersons, Rao said a PIL will also be filed in the High Court soon and CID should take up the matter on the grounds of societal concern.
Similar action should be initiated against any pontiff who indulges in illegal activities like Nithyananda, he said.
Rao said Arati can’t come out as there was a threat to her life. She will soon come out in the open to seek justice for all the pains she has gone through, he added.
‘Not morphed’
Veena, chairman of Spandana NGO, said Indian Laboratory, which examined the Ranjitha-Nithyananda CD, has confirmed that the content in the CD was not morphed.
She alleged that an American lab was bribed to prove that the content in the CD was not genuine.
Veena alleged that Nithyananda had two date of births and holds a fake diploma certificate.