The latest round of controversy surrounding godman Nithyananda has given room for suspicion that the whole episode could be taking a political colour, especially in the light of the reaction of the state government after the televised interview of a US-based woman whose allegations the CID police have already included in their chargesheet. The CID, who probed the charges against the self-styled godman, had filed the chargesheet before the Ramanagaram court.
The woman, who was interviewed by a news channel recently, had appeared before the CID police in 2010 and her charges against the godman were included in the chargesheet. A senior police official said that certain additional charges were also framed against Nithyananda in the subsequent additional chargesheet filed before the court. The fresh controversy surrounding the ashram has come up even as the court is yet to fix a date for trial. The court has taken cognizance of the chargesheet and summoned the accused. The fact is that the US-based woman’s statements aired on TV are sub-judice as it is pending before the court for completion of trial.
Amidst these legal processes, the Karnataka government has also indicated its plans to take over the ashram. Law minister Suresh Kumar on Saturday said the government was mulling taking over the ashram. “The government is mulling of taking control of the administration of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam situated at Bidadi for alleged objectionable activities taking place there,’’ he said in Dharwad. He also said the government was planning to appoint an administrator for the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam. The law minister even said he would discuss the issues concerning the ashram with Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and home minister R. Ashok. However, home minister R. Ashok, while talking to Deccan Chronicle, struck a different note saying there was no proposal either to appoint an administrator or take over the ashram.