JOIN USSelf-styled godman Nithyananda was on Friday night released from Central Prison in Mysore following the bail granted by the district magistrate.
The court of the district magistrate had remanded the tainted godman in judicial custody for seven days. He was lodged in the jail late on Thursday night.
Soon after his arrival at the jail, Nithyananda straightaway went to sleep. He woke up at 6.30 am on Friday, had cold water bath before sitting in meditation. To a query by the jail authorities on how he spent the night, Nithyananda replied that he had a sound sleep.
Sources told Deccan Herald, that the tainted godman didn’t speak a word with the two inmates with whom he shared the cell. He refused to take the food - either breakfast or lunch - as he had taken a vow that he won’t consume even a drop of water till he secured bail. However, he had his food minutes ahead of the court granting him bail.
HC summons SP
The High Court of Karnataka has directed the superintendent of police, Ramanagara, to appear before it on Monday in connection with a habeas corpus petition seeking to produce Nithyananda before it.
Valli Ramanathan, who claims herself to be a devotee of the controversial godman, has approached the High Court with a habeas corpus petition, alleging that Nithyananda had been detained even after he was released on bail on Thursday.
The petition states that two complaints were registered against Nithyananda holding him responsible for the incidents at his Bidadi Ashram. However, after his release, he was detained under Section 107 CrPC (anticipating trouble by committing a breach of peace or disturbing public tranquility), which was illegal.
The petitioner claims that no FIR had been registered against Nithyananda, nor was he given an opportunity to defend himself.
The Division Bench comprising Justices Dilip Bhonsle and B V Pinto, directed Anupam Agarwal, SP, Ramanagara, to appear before the court on Monday in connection with the matter.
Objections filed
The State government, in its objection to the petition seeking quashing of an FIR filed against Nithyananda, contended that it was too early to declare the godman innocent.
The objection statement said that it was not correct to conclude that the allegations made in the complaints do not constitute any offence against Nithyananda.
The State further stated that the investigations related to the June 7 incident at the Bidadi ashram and other cases were in the initial stage and a prima facie case was made out against Nithyananda.
It attributed the entire episode to the provocation and instigation by the self-styled godman.
The government urged that when the matter was being investigated by the police, the court cannot, in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction, interfere with the statutory powers of the police to investigate into the alleged offenses.
Justice Subhash B Adi adjourned the matter.