Godman Nityananda gets bail

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Controversial self-styled godman Nityananda was granted bail by the district executive magistrate on Friday, a day after he was re-arrested on charges of disturbing peace.

Ramanagar Deputy Commissioner Sriram Reddy, also the executive magistrate, passed orders granting bail to Nityananda on furnishing a bond for Rs 1 lakh and two sureties for like sum and directed him not to disturb peace.

Public Prosecutor Nagaraj Reddy opposed bail for Nityananda who was arrested on June 13 after he appeared before a court to surrender in an assault case and was on Thursday slapped with a fresh case of disturbing peace, leading to his arrest for the second time.

The self-styled godman, already facing criminal charges, including rape and out on bail after his arrest in 2010, courted fresh trouble when police on June 8 booked him and his followers for allegedly assaulting a mediaperson at a press conference at his ashram at nearby Bidadi.

Nityananda has filed a writ petition in the high court seeking Rs 10 crore as damages to his ashram property from the state government.
Reacting to Nityananda's petition, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Friday said he would not mind going to jail to safeguard the interests of the people.

"I wouldn't mind going to jail to protect people's interest. I will perform my chief ministerial duty even if there are thousands of cases filed against me," Gowda told reporters in Bangalore.

Gowda said he did not take any decision against Nityananda in haste and did it after collecting details about his activities in the ashram.
The Chief Minister said he was performing his chief ministerial duties in the interest of the state and not against an individual like Nityananda or an institution.