More complaints and Investigations await Nithyananda

Nithyananda may be grilled in Pondicherry
P Jonathan Ambrose, 26 Apr 2010

PUDUCHERRY: After Justin Devdoss was brought to Puducherry for interrogation in connection with the JBJ construction scam, it is now the turn of swami Nithyananda. The swami’s second trip to the old French town, after his last visit in January 2009 to offer darshan for his devotees, may not be a patch on the first one.

The police have moved the Puducherry court seeking custody of Nithyananda and he may be brought here next week.

This move came after seven advocates from Puducherry filed a complaint alleging that the Nithyananda ashram on Puducherry outskirts had swindled money from the people in the name of meditations and blessings. A case has been filed under section 402 for cheating and 295 (A), for exploiting the religious feelings of the people.

“The entire Tamil society had suffered an erosion in morality and decency. The swami had received money from the people in the name of religion,” said advocate Aladi Mahendran on Sunday.

Investigation had revealed that during the swami’s visit last year, tokens priced at Rs 1,000 each were issued for a devotee to receive his blessings.

Over 2,000 devotees had attended this worship meeting. Besides, Rs 700 was charged for the weekly meditation classes in the ashram at Eambalam, but no receipts were issued.



US agency seeks info on Nithyananda case progress
MK Madhusoodan / DNA
Monday, April 26, 2010 10:28 IST

Bangalore: Even as the criminal investigation department continued to interrogate the tainted swami, Paramahamsa Nithyananda, a US security agency made “casual” enquiries on the progress of the case.
The US agency, it was learnt, showed interest on getting information related to a complaint filed against the swami in that country. It was also interested in knowing the flow of funds from Nithyananda’s ashram, Dhyanapeetham, in Bidadi, about 35km from Bangalore, according to CID sources.

Douglas McKeller of San Jose, US, had accused Nithyananda of sexually exploiting his devotees, fraud and financial irregularities.

It was suspected that the swami had routed funds to the now-extinct militant organisation, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, of Sri Lanka. Sources indicated that they would be looking into the self-styled godman’s international connections as well as financial transactions.

The CID would be writing to the central enforcement directorate (customs) to charge cases against Nithyananda under the provisions ofForeign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Foreign Exchange Regulatory Act (FERA). “We are not authorised to file cases under FEMA and FERA. So we have decided to write to the directorate of enforcement,” a CID officer said.

The CID had found that Nithyananda and his brother Nityeshwarananda were holding joint accounts in Canara Bank's Ramanagara branch, besides several others in Corporation Bank. The accounts revealed that the duo had received money from foreign countries.

Meanwhile, the director-general of police (CID) BV Guruprasad and DIG Charan Reddy quizzed Nithyananda on Sunday afternoon. The swami was cooperating with the investigation.

Nithyananda underwent medical examination on Sunday morning at the CID headquarters here. The interrogation started around 10 am. The arrested swami had lunch, brought from the Bidadi ashram, around 1.45 pm.

The CID would produce him before the Ramanagara chief judicial magistrate on Monday, to seek a four days’ extension of his police remand.

Nithyananda would also be taken to his Bidadi ashram to collect evidence. Sources in the CID said the swami would be travelling under tight security.