Hunt on for Nityananda, govt to secure his ashram

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Bangalore: Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Monday directed the home department to initiate legal action against self-styled godman swami Nityananda, including his arrest. 
    After a high-level meeting with home minister R Ashoka, law minister S Suresh Kumar and top police officials, including DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau, the CM said he has asked the Ramanagaram deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to secure custody of the ashram (Dhyanapeetham) to collect evidence about its activities and seal the ashram till order is restored. However, police are awaiting government’s order to launch a crackdown. 
    The decision follows recent unsavoury incidents at the ashram in Bidadi. A USbased woman has, in a complaint, accused him of abusing her for five years. 
GODMAN FACES LEGAL ACTION 
WHAT’S COMING 
• Police will secure the custody of Nityananda’s Bidadi ashram, collect evidence about its activities, seal the ashram till order is restored 

• A manhunt launched for controversial godman, who is in hiding. Arrest on the cards 

• Government likely to seek cancellation of Nityananda’s bail Govt wants his bail cancelled 
Bangalore: Police have launched a manhunt for Nityananda, who is reportedly absconding after his devotees assaulted reporters at the ashram last week for asking inconvenient questions. 
    The CM said he has asked regional commissioner Shambhu Dayal Meena to submit a report on the clashes. The government will hold discussions with the law department to seek cancellation of Nityananda’s bail, recently granted bail by the high court in connection with a case of rape and criminal intimidation. Nityananda is facing criminal charges, including rape, on complaints last year by some former disciples. He was arrested and released on bail. 
    On June 8, police lodged criminal cases against him and his followers for allegedly assaulting a reporter during a press conference at his ashram. The FIRs were filed on complaints from a regional TV channel reporter and activists of Nava Nirmana Sene. On a counter complaint by two followers of Nityananda, police registered two FIRs against the reporter and Sene activists for alleged outrage of modesty. 
    The reporter complained that he was assaulted after he asked a question at a press meet convened by the godman about Nityananda’s refusal to accept court summons on charges of sexual abuse levelled against him by a USbased woman. When Nityananda’s men denied he had not been issued any summons, the reporter showed a copy of it that eventually led to a clash between the two.

IN THE SOUP 
Godman is currently facing charges of rape, sexual assault and criminal intimidation

TIME TO GO: Disciples leave Nityananda’s Bidadi ashram on Monday