Nithyananda tries to squirm out of US fraud charges

Chandan Nandy Bangalore, March 11, DHNS
Days after one of his organisations was sued for fraud in the United States, lawyers representing Nithyananda and his several organisations in that country have denied he has any links with those so-called non-profit enterprises.
The “memorandum of points and authorities”, which are essentially rebuttals of the allegations made against Oklahoma-based Nithyananda Foundation by some non-residents Indians (NRIs) who in December last year brought criminal and civil charges of fraud, racketeering, breach of contract and unfair business practices, claims: “Swami is not a Foundation Board Member, is not a shareholder or member of the Foundation, is not an employee of the Foundation, and is not an agent of the Foundation.” Two directors of the foundation were also slapped with the same charges. A copy of the two-page document, which is in the possession of Deccan Herald, quotes the NRIs’ criminal case petition, filed in the superior court in San Bernadino county of California, saying: “Plaintiff (NRIs) alleges that Swami (not the Foundation) agreed in writing to transfer ownership of the property to plaintiff as a return of plaintiff’s $1.7 million investment” and that “despite the Swami’s agreement to transfer ownership of the property, the Foundation breached the contract and refuses to convey the property”. The document claims that “Swami had no authority to authorise such transfer”. It appears that the foundation lawyer’s response to the criminal case is more an attemp to delink Nithyananda from not just that particular entity but also at least a dozen other not-for-profit organisations that Nithyananda’s senior devotees ran across the United States. The NRI’s criminal petition provides specific examples of wire transfer of huge sums of money, in the form of donations by devotees, from the foundation to a company known as Nithyananda Export and Import, which was “created, operated and is run by Nithyananda’s brother”. In the light of the allegations made by the NRIs and the response to the charges, several former Nithyananda devotees are now wondering why an attempt is being made to show that he has no ties with the many money-spinning organisations that were established under his name. One such entity was the Nithyananda Investment Fund I LP (limited partnership), a hedge fund, of which Nithyananda was the promoter.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/145112/nithyananda-tries-squirm-us-fraud.html

Nithyananda's Lies Cause Confusion and Chaos for Disciples

In factional war, Nithyananda’s Los Angeles ashram disintegrating
Chandan Nandy, Bangalore, April 1, DH News Service:

Three days after self-styled godman Nithyananda, now a fugitive from the law, reportedly 'resigned' from all positions in his cult organisation, the multi-million dollar 'healing-spiritual' empire in the United States is imploding.


Nithyananda's biographer ('Glimpses of a Master', republished as 'Nithyananda' Vol 1) Ram S Ramanathan, formerly Swami Advaithananda, has "disengaged" himself from the godman. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ramanathan, who runs a business in Singapore, said he was "disenchanted" with Nithyananda.

In an open letter written to all disciples, Ramanathan, who has admitted to have given the status of "master" to Nithyananda, says: "Nithyananda spoke to me some days after the March 2 exposure.

He did not deny that what was portrayed in the so-called sex tapes was untrue. Even with an ordinary man these would be serious charges meriting criminal investigation. In the case of a spiritual master these are unforgivable."

Ramanathan says: "Many of us put him on a pedestal and found him wanting. That was not his fault but ours. We were fools. All of us who have now disengaged and left Nithyananda and his mission did so because we are honest. It is enough that we had thus far believed foolishly. We do not wish to lie to others as many others are still doing."

Ramanathan has reiterated that “There is visual evidence that the sex acts were with sensory pleasure and with lust, evidence that these acts were not limited to Ranjitha alone but extending beyond to other men and women, and proof that ashramites/ brahmacharis/ brahmacharinis were expected to be part of tantric sex practices based on documents that they signed.”

Sources in Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam and Life Bliss Foundation, the two organisations in India and the US, respectively, that form the core of Nithyananda's venture, said the fight between senior devotees at the Los Angeles ashram and the Vedic Temple is out in the open.

According to them, since the Nithyananda sex scandal went public and after the godman failed to convince his devotees that he was not the man secretly filmed in a compromising position with a Tamil actress, two groups opposed to each other were formed. One group is in support of Nithyananda while the other is opposed to him..

The latter group is now questioning the very basis of his so-called enlightenment and healing programme. Several senior devotees like Sahajananda, Sevakananda and Jyotirmayananda, as well as their spouses, have quit the Nithyananda cult.

The US operations are headed by California-based Bhaktananda, alias Gopal Sheelum, a former client consultant for Oracle, who is at present in India along with Nithyananda, providing his “master” protection.

The "implosion" and the factional war at the LA ashram was the result of a meeting held there following the return to the American city of an influential non-resident Indian (NRI) who turned against Nithyananda despite being a close devotee. Former devotees familiar with the developments in LA told Deccan Herald that this NRI, a doctor by profession, was convinced of Nithyananda's involvement in not just one but many sexual indiscretions. The NRI has now launched a movement to expose Nithyananda in the US.


Silence reigns at Nithyananda's ashram in Bangalore
Malavika Velayanikal / DNA
Thursday, April 1, 2010 10:13 IST

Bangalore: Locked gates, lonely gatekeepers, a few stray cows, and silence. That’s what the Sree Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam is all about today.

Bewilderment reigns at the ashram in Bidadi, once a bustling place but now bereft of any activity.

The “spiritual seclusion” that Swami Nithyananda has adopted seems to have shrouded his ashram premises as well. According to the gatekeepers, nobody is left in the ashram with the exception of a few volunteers and policemen.

The gates of the dhyanapeetam are manned by a handful of volunteers. They are wary of nosy reporters and curious passersby, and only the white-robed seniors among them are allowed to speak to those who knock at the gate.

The bolts are unlocked only for authorised vehicles and telephone calls to ashram authorities go unanswered. Even their public relations officer prefers to keep mum.

The situation was similar at the dhyanapeetham. It was only after an hour and much cajoling that the most senior person among the volunteers, 33-year-old Santhosh, stepped out to talk to DNA.

It was with seemingly infinite patience that he explained to us, “None of the ashram authorities are here, neither are the devotees. As you can see, it is almost empty. Except for a few volunteers and policemen manning our gates, there is nobody.”

Pointing to a half-complete colossal building inside the ashram gates, he said, “That was being built to provide housing to our devotees, who used to come here for dhyana. Even the construction has stopped.”

Incidentally, the dhyanapeetham website had uploaded a video last week, stating that the ashram had resumed its usual activities. However, in view of the situation at the ashram now, nothing looked farther from reality.

When asked about the whereabouts of the “sadhakas” of the dhyanapeetam, who the swami had endorsed as the managers of the ashram on a video made available online, the gatekeepers just shrugged.

Even the Muneeshwara temple on the ashram premises, they said, was closed. “Earlier, it was open to all. The villagers and devotees could come in at any time and pray,” they said. The ashram store, where devotees could buy rudrakshas (praying beads), panchaloha bracelets and other spiritual gear, was also closed.

However, Nithyananda still commands his place on the pedestal among the more faithful. Santhosh, who came to the ashram seeking spiritual solace six months ago, still remains the devotee he always was. “My faith hasn’t been shaken by the scandal. Swamiji had foreseen this current controversy three years ago. In a public gathering, he had warned the devotees of impending trouble,” he said. However, he did not elaborate any further on the matter.