Nithyananda surrenders, sent to jail

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, June 13, 2012: After absconding for nearly 48 hours, the controversial godman Swami Nithyananda was on Wednesday sent to a day-long judicial custody minutes after he surrendered before a local court here.

According to reports, the controversial spiritual guru made an appearance before the Ramanagara district court here at around 3:10 pm this afternoon.

 

 

He was later sent to the Ramnagara district jail as per the court’s order.

The controversial godman was reportedly heckled by a mob of over hundred people, who gathered outside the court shortly after the news of his surrender broke out.

Nithyananda is facing charges of rape and sexual harassment by some of his former devotees last year.

The Karnataka police had launched a massive manhunt to arrest him after the state government ordered the closure of his Bidadi hermitage following a clash between his opponents and his devotees.

Meanwhile, Bangalore Police searched his hermitage today and seized several electronic items from there.

Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Monday said that action would be taken against the self-styled godman who courted fresh controversy in the wake accusations by a US-based woman that she was sexually abused by him for five years.

The disciples of the self-styled godman held two news conferences last week to clear the air on the matter, but they ended in fracas as Nithyananda’s men assaulted newsmen.