Karnataka HC rejects Nityananda plea

Swami Nityananda, who is in the eye of the storm following a sleazy video, returned empty handed after the Karnataka High Court rejected a petition filed by him, seeking a stay on the cases against him.

The court also ordered the police to produce all documents relating to the cases filed against Nityananda Swami, facing allegations of involvement in sleazy activities. Following a petition by the swami seeking to quash the cases, Justice Arali Nagaraj issued notice to Bidadi police to produce all documents and records concerning various criminal cases, including rape, registered against the 'godman'.
The hearing has been adjourned till March 25. Nityananda, in his petition, has alleged that one of his former disciples and driver Kurup Lenin had conspired to defame him and his ashram by levelling such charges against him.

The whereabouts of the self-styled swami, who was recently in the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar "are not known", according to the police. The cases, registered by the Tamil Nadu police for various offences, including rape, were re-registered by the Bidadi Police in Karnataka, under whose jurisdiction the Ashram falls. They were transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department by the police on Monday "because of the complex nature and inter-state ramifications", Ramanagaram district Superintendent of Police S B Bisnalli told PTI on Tuesday.

Additional input: PTI