Nithyananda makes light of rape charges

Mtoday news

Bangalore, Feb 1:  Controversial godman Nithyananda held a press conference at his ashram near Bangalore today where he claimed that the sex scandal he is accused of is a case of "religious persecution."

 

 

Last year, several channels in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu aired a video that they claimed showed Nithyananda in a compromising position with Tamil actor Ranjitha. He was granted bail in June last year after being arrested on charges that include rape and intimidation

I am being threatened and blackmailed by powerful people politically. They demanded at least Rs. 100 crore from me, then reduced the price to Rs. 60 crore. Different amounts were demanded at different times," Nithyananda claimed today.

He said the video that shows him is ’manipulated and morphed."

Ranjitha made a similar statement recently.

The Godman said he was astounded by how inappropriate the rape charge was for someone of his stature.  "I am shocked that people slapped a rape charge on me. It is like slapping a Rs. 200 rupee theft charge on a president. Don’t they have shame?

"People should have asked that so called rape victim - if you are being raped, why do you go to his room again and again for 4 years?" he dared.  His followers at the ashram clapped and cheered.

Nithyananda is the most-watched spiritual leader on YouTube and has four million followers across the world.  However, it’s the criminal charges against him that have become his biggest distinction - and will keep him in the limelight while his cases are heard.