Bangalore, May 11, DH News Service:
Self-styled godman Nithyananda’s legal battle to prove his innocence has claimed its first victim, as his advocate has opted out.
Advocate H S Chandramouli, who had been representing Nithyananda in all the cases pending against him in Ramanagar, Bangalore and Chennai, has given a no objection certificate in court paving the way for the appointment of new legal counsel for the godman, who finds himself embroiled in charges of rape, unnatural sex, hurting religous sentiments and criminal intimidation.
Advocate Chandramouli cited his inability to attend to all the cases of the godman in the three cities, as it would affect his court appearances with regard to other clients.
Speaking to Deccan Herald he said: “I have cases pending in sessions courts and other circuit benches, so it is unreasonable to be expending so much time on one case.”
The advocate admitted that he was unaware that the case would drag for such a long time and it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain appearances everywhere. “When he was arrested, I had to go to the jail, speak to the authorities take instructions on a regular basis. My client is innocent, but how long could I continue this?” he questioned.
The overwhelming negative publicity the case has gathered has contributed to its slow progress, hampering his other cases, he claimed.
When asked if he was being shown the door as the godman was unhappy with the way his anticipatory bail case was handled, Chandramouli shot back saying that Nithyananda was free to have his counsel changed anytime he wanted and he did not have to wait this long to do so.
The case is now expected to be handled by Delhi-based advocate Pradhan.
Bangalore Mirror
Nithyananda lawyer opts out of case
H S Chandramouli says it is not possible for him to represent the Swami in courts outside Bangalore; Delhi-based lawyer may take over
Posted On Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sex-tainted Swami Nithyananda, who is currently lodged in the Ramanagaram jail following the rejection of his bail plea by a court there, will now have to look to a new advocate to help him out of his legal troubles. His lawyer, H S Chandramouli, has decided not to represent the Swami in any court in the future.
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H S Chandramouli | Swami Nithyananda |
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Chandramouli, who was once a special public prosecutor for the state in the high court, said, “I am opting out of the case. A New Delhi-based lawyer may take over the case from me very soon. I will issue a No Objection Certificate in this regard.” He added, “Nobody has asked me to withdraw from the case. It was my voluntary decision.”
Explaining the reasons for his decision, Chandramouli said, “In the beginning itself, I had told the Swami’s people that I would represent him in the court till he got bail. I had also made it clear to them that I am a high court advocate and will not argue before a Ramanagaram court. I had also told them that I will not go to Puducherry or any place other than Bangalore to get relief for the Swami. His people want me to represent him all over the country, and this is not possible for me. So, I gave up his case.”
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Nithyananda’s supporters have hired a senior lawyer from New Delhi to get bail and other relief for the jailed Swami, whose bail application was rejected by a Ramanagaram court.
According to sources, as per a previous plan, Chandramouli should have filed a review application seeking bail for the Swami in the high court. But Chandramouli dropped the plan on coming to know that a Delhi-based lawyer is going to make his intervention in the case.
Apart from a case in the Ramanagaram court, Nithyananda faces the legal process in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur, where arrest warrants await him.
To be able to come out of the Ramanagaram jail and avoid being arrested by the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry police, the Swami will have to obtain bail from the Karnataka High Court and anticipatory bail from the courts in Sriperumbudur and Puducherry. All this will have to be managed by his new advocate.
It is highly laudable that someone has started this blog to keep this issue from fading over time.
ReplyDeleteEven if Nithyananda dies in jail or at the hands of one of his victims or wherever his karma decides, let this blog remain as a check against the cult of fake swamis masquerading as spiritual guides to a vast population of innocent gullible people who flock to them for spiritual solace.