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Karnataka
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Tainted godman resigns as 'Dhyanapeetam Ashram' head | Self-proclaimed godman Swami Nityananda, who was reportedly under the scanner ever since a video of him in a compromising position with Tamil actress Ranjitha surfaced, on Tuesday announced his decision to step down as the chief of the 'Dhyanapeetam Ashram' and all other trusts associated with it. Addressing
his followers on his official website, Nityananda said, "I have decided to live
a life of spiritual seclusion, for some indefinite time and to enable the Dhyanapeetam
to function with such amended agenda as may be necessary." "I am resigning as
the head of the Dhyanapeetam and from all the trusts associated with it," he added.
Swami Nityananda, who is facing criminal cases including that of rape further
said, "In view of the developments in the last three weeks following the media
reports about me as the head of Dhyanapeetam, I had met some of the leading acharyas
of Hindu Dharma at Haridwar Kumbh Mela," adding that he had briefed them about
the truth. "Candidly discussing what had happened, I had sought their spiritual
and moral support, guidance for me, and their views on the future course of Dhyanapeetam.
I had also undertaken that I would act entirely in accordance with their counsel,"
he claimed. The Karnataka High Court has turned down the godman's bail plea for
anticipatory bail. The court had on March 24 ordered the state police to produce
all documents relating to the cases filed against Swami Nithyananda, who is facing
allegations of involvement in a sex scandal. Following a petition by the swami
seeking to quash the cases, justice Arali Nagaraj issued a notice to the Bidadi
police, directing them to produce all documents and records concerning the various
criminal cases, including rape, registered against the godman. The swami had filed
a writ petition in the high court, challenging the first information report (FIR)
registered against him by the Bidadi police. Besides asking the court to quash
the FIR, he had also sought a stay on all the other proceedings against him. Nithyananda
had contended that as per the provisions of the law, only the sufferers could
file complaints, and not a third party. The petition contended that Karuppa Lenin,
a former disciple and driver of the swami, had conspired to defame the religious
institution by levelling charges against him. The Chennai police had lodged various
cases against the godman, including rape, under the Indian Penal Code after Lenin
filed a complaint against him on March 3. The Ramanagaram police had, in turn,
handed over the case to the CID. In his petition, Nithyanananda submitted that
prima facie, no complaint had been filed by any victim or aggrieved person and
Lenin's complaint was governed by an ulterior motive. It was unfortunate that
an act aimed at assassinating the character of the swami had been glorified by
the media, it added. |
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