Swami Nithyananda denied bail by Court

The Times of India has reported from Bangalore on May 7, 2010 that ‘the Ramanagaram district sessions court on Thursday dismissed the bail petition filed by controversial godman Swami Nityananda’. The news was reported by other sources too.

On Monday, the CID investigating numerous criminal cases against Swami Nithyananda, the former head of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam and Life Bliss Foundation, filed objections for granting bail to Nithyananda. In their objection the Karnataka CID officials mentioned about the non-disclosure agreement he signed with his disciples and argued that it may hold back some of the witnesses to come forward and testify against the swami.

Public Prosecutor Srirama Reddy, in his arguments opposing the bail plea of the sex-scandal hit Swami Nityananda, argued that the swami’s victims were scared of deposing before the investigating agency. Reddy said that several of the godman’s affluent disciples have been preventing the victims from coming forward to testify against him. He further submitted before the court that Nithyananda was likely to tamper with evidence if he were to be let out on bail.

The ‘self-styled enlightened godman’ Paramahamsa Nithyananda, now lodged in the Ramanagara sub-jail, is facing several criminal cases slapped against him before the Ramanagara sessions court near Bangalore, including sexual abuse of his disciples, after Nithyananda had gone into hiding after TV channels aired video clippings allegedly featuring the swami in a compromising position with an actress.

The arguments in the bail application filed by Nithyananda concluded on Monday and ruling was reserved for Thursday, and Sessions Judge Hunugund observed that Nityananda is facing serious charges and the investigations are on.

Nithyananda was arrested on April 21 in Himachal Pradesh where he was hiding and brought to Bangalore as the cases against him were transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Earlier, the Puducherry police who reached Ramanagara to take custody of Nithyananda in connection with cheating cases were denied custody of the accused Paramahamsa Nithyananda on the ground that the criminal cases being investigated by the Karnataka CID are currently in progress, as Judge CG Hungund of the Ramanagara sessions court turned down the Puducherry Police’s plea.

On March 5, the Orleanpet police in Puducherry registered a case against Swami Nithyananda for cheating several of his devotees and injuring religious sentiments of the people there, based on a complaint filed by a group of lawyers.