A sustained four day campaign by local news television channels against self-styled godman Nithyananda brought enough pressure on Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda to declare on Monday that the government will arrest the godman, take over the administration of his Dhyanapeetham ashram in Bidadi, and throw a security ring around it.
The CM’s announcement triggered an exodus from the ashram, with some 30, Indian and foreign nationals and their children, leaving the premises. Amid speculation the anti-swami campaign was a cover for a land grab of the 20 acre spread off the Mysore-Bengaluru highway, the negative media glare on the swami —sparked by a tv journalist attempting to deliver a copy of a court summons in a sexual harassment case to the godman — whipped up sentiments and prompted the CM to act. Police are on the lookout for Nithyanada, who is absconding. “We have registered cases under Sec 323, 506, 504, 324 and 149 in Bidadi police station against Nithyananda. We are not going to revive previous cases pending against him. Right now, it is on developments that took place on June 7,” Ramanagar SP Anupam Agarwal said.