Govt goes after godman, ashram

Jun 12, 2012 |

Bengaluru

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With the Swami Nithyananda story getting murkier, the government has decided to order a probe into the affairs of the godman's Dhyanapeeta Ashram near Bidadi in Ramanagaram district and also move the courts to have his bail cancelled.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with senior officers of the Ramanagaram district administration and the police on Monday, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda said the police would take the godman into custody for interrogation as soon as his bail was cancelled. The government would also appoint an administrator for the ashram, seal it, and take inventory of everything inside it, he added.

Already facing a slew of charges, the godman's fortunes took a further downturn when one of his former disciples, Arathi, recently alleged he had sexually exploited her. The media too had its share of shabby treatment in the ashram. Several organisations meanwhile staged protests outside it, demanding action against the swamy by the government. Ramanagaram superintendent of police, Anupam Agarwal, in a report to the government, said he did not have much information on what went on inside the ashram, as they were not allowed in.

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