Nithyananda’s sleazy video ‘authentic’

Kumar Rakesh/TNS
New Delhi, June 4
Forensic experts have confirmed that an amorous video allegedly showing Paramahamsa Nityananda alias Rajasekharan with a woman is “authentic” and there is no evidence of tinkering or fabrication, as claimed by the tainted godman.

Official sources told The Tribune that Forensic Science Laboratoy, Delhi, had done authentication test on two memory chips carrying the lewd video and found it genuine. DIG, CID, Bangalore, Charan Reddy told The Tribune that the case was at a sensitive stage and declined to comment, saying he had not received the report yet.

Sources said the positive report from the forensic experts would be another piece of evidence against the swami, who enjoyed a huge following before the video found its way to the public and he escaped.

The recorder was hidden in his private room and captured the bits of his colourful life during three days, December 23 to December 25, 2009. Police sources said they had sent two chips and a DVD, which was basically a duplicate of the content of the chips, and the report has nailed the swami’s lie that it was fabricated.

CP Singh, a leading forensic expert in audio-visual field and working with FSL, Delhi, was asked to probe the swami’s visuals because of his proven expertise. With it being clear that the video was authentic, the next logical step would be the police asking the forensic experts to check if it was indeed Nithyananda in the video.

The DIG said they were first interested about the authenticity of the video and would check the veracity of swami’s presence once they got the report. Though circumtantial evidence, including the fact the recording occurred in his private room, leaves not much room for doubts about the identity of the man, sources said.

After being on run for weeks, the self-styled godman was arrested from a Himachal Pradesh village, 50 km off Shimla, on April 21.