Karnataka govt mulling takeover of Nithyananda's ashram: Minister

Jun 09, 2012 |

Bengaluru

Tags:

Nithyananda

The Karnataka government was planning to take over the ashram of controversial self-styled godman Nithyananda at Bidadi near here taking into view alleged objectionable activities taking place there, Law Minister Suresh Kumar said on Saturday.

"The government is mulling to take control of the administration of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam situated at Bidadi for alleged objectionable activities taking place there," he told reporters at Dharwad, over 400 km from here.

He said the government was also planning to appoint an administrator for the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, located in Ramanagara district.

Kumar's comments came in the wake of a clash between activists of a Kannada organisation protesting against Nithyananda and his disciples at the ashram on Friday.

The protests broke out in the backdrop of recent allegations by a US-based woman that she was sexually abused by him for five years, a charge denied by him.

Earlier, police had registered two cases against Nithyananda and others in connection with an altercation between his followers and a section of media during a press conference at his ashram on June 7.

Nithyananda is already facing criminal charges, including rape, after a slew of complaints were filed against him in 2010 after some local TV channels telecast purported videos of the self-styled godman in a compromising position with an actress.

Suresh Kumar said he would discuss the issues concerning Nithyananda ashram with Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda and Home Minister R. Ashok.

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