Nithyananda devotee files complaint against media

Devotee A C Narendran filed a complaint under section 295A of IPC (hurting of religious sentiments) against two regional television channels and other media for "distorting telecast of Guru Poornima celebrations and kundalini awakening sessions at Nithyananda Dhyananpeetam ashram in Bidadi in Ramanagar district".

The ashram had invited the media to be part of a "live scientific recording of activation of certain parts of the human brain through the ancient spiritual technique of Kundalini Awakening and Levitation’ (anti-gravity) through initiation by Nithyananda", on July 15.

"With no attempt to understand or verify the spiritual and scientific research, they (media) have outrightly misrepresented it as a "con, comedy and repulsive show" to readers and viewers with especially blatant implications attached to levitation movements of innocent devotees and spiritual seekers who had gathered from all over the world on the auspicious and holy day of Guru Purnima", he said.

The devotee also alleged that the visuals "were accompanied by derogatory vocal commentaries, several panel discussions with people who abused the program outight without even caring to know or visit or experience the programme".

Nityananda and his associate Nithya Bhaktananda were arrested on April 21 2010 in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh after they went underground in the wake of telecast of video footage purportedly showing Nithyananda in a compromising position with an actress. A case is pending against them in a court in Ramanagara near here over criminal charges, including rape.