In a dramatic development, Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Monday instructed the police officials to arrest self-proclaimed godman Nityananda over the recent attack on newspersons and his alleged sexual abuse of a foreign woman.
Sources said that Nityananda was currently absconding fearing the possible arrest by the Karnataka police. He incurred the wrath of the government after his devotes attacked the press representatives at his ashram located in the suburbs of Bangalore.
Last week, Nityananda's devotes allegedly roughed up the journalists who were called for a press conference by him at the Dhyanapeetam ashram. Following the incident, journalists and other people staged protests against the godman across Karnataka, demanding the government to take action against him.
The controversies deepened when a former woman disciple from the US came on a Kannada TV channel and leveled sexual abuse charge against him.
The ongoing protest against Nityananda and foreigner women's alleged revelation, promoted Gowda to direct the police to arrest him.
Chief Minister Gowda commissioned Regional Commissioner of Bangalore Division, Shambulal Meena, to probe into the allegations against Nityananda and gather evidence from his ashram on his activities as well. Sources said that the Chief Minister had ordered officials to find out Nityananda and take him into custody within two days, who's currently absconding.
According to media reports, journalists shot some uncomfortable questions to Nityananda over the controversies surrounding him, which led to heated exchange of words between him and reporters. Later, supposedly annoyed by the media questions, Nityananda asked his ashram supporters to take away the media representatives from there, which led to a tussle.
Gowda held meeting with Home Minister R Ashok, Law Minister Suresh and DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau over the related to Nityananda, before directing the officials to arrest him and his followers for allegedly attacking the newspersons.
An FIR was lodged against Nityananda's devotees on June 8 for indulging in attacking a TV reporter and Nava Nirmana Sene members. However, in a tit-for-tat manner, some of his supports have also filed complaints against the reporter and Nava Nirmana Sen activists.
Nityananda has been making headlines since 2010 after a sleazy video purportedly consisting him and a film actress was aired by a TV channel. The video showed both the godman and the actress in compromising position. However, both argued that the CD was doctored and intended to spoil their reputation.
Lenin Kuruppan, one of his former disciples, leveled a slew of sexual abuse allegations against Nityananda.
Nityananda is accused of sexually abusing his female devotees and was arrested last year. However, he secured bail.
