<p>Police today made a lathicharge and arrested 35 persons after a clash between a group of people protesting against self-styled godman Nithyananda and his disciples at his ashram in Bidadi near here.<br /><br />The arrests came as protests broke out against Nithyananda in the backdrop of recent allegations by a US-based woman that she was sexually abused by him for five years, a charge denied by him.<br /><br />The arrested include 15 disciples of Nithyananda who were locked in a fisticuff with the protesters of a Kannada outfit after they barged into the ashram and clashed with his followers, prompting the police lathicharge.<br /><br />Police took 35 persons into custody, Ramanagara District Superintendent of Police Anup Agarwal told reporters.</p>.<p><br />Earlier, police registered two cases against Nithyananda and his followers in connection with an altercation between the self-styled godman's followers and a section of media during a press conference at his ashram yesterday.</p>.<p><br />Police registered the cases on a complaint by a regional TV reporter and a Kannada outfit. Acting on a counter complaint, police also filed two cases against the reporter and the outfit activists.</p>.<p><br />Nithyananda had convened the press meet to respond to allegations made by the woman, who has lodged a complaint in the US.</p>.<p><br />"The police will initiate action as per law to bring the situation under control", Agarwal, whose effort to meet Nityananda failed, said.</p>.<p><br />Meanwhile, Home Minister R Ashok asked the police to investigate the issue and initiate action as per law.<br /><br />Nityananda is facing a CID probe into allegations of rape and criminal intimidation levelled against him in 2010 after some TV channels telecast purported video footage of the self-styled godman in a compromising position with an actress.<br /><br />He was arrested in Himachal Pradesh in 2010 and released on bail.</p>
<p>Police today made a lathicharge and arrested 35 persons after a clash between a group of people protesting against self-styled godman Nithyananda and his disciples at his ashram in Bidadi near here.<br /><br />The arrests came as protests broke out against Nithyananda in the backdrop of recent allegations by a US-based woman that she was sexually abused by him for five years, a charge denied by him.<br /><br />The arrested include 15 disciples of Nithyananda who were locked in a fisticuff with the protesters of a Kannada outfit after they barged into the ashram and clashed with his followers, prompting the police lathicharge.<br /><br />Police took 35 persons into custody, Ramanagara District Superintendent of Police Anup Agarwal told reporters.</p>.<p><br />Earlier, police registered two cases against Nithyananda and his followers in connection with an altercation between the self-styled godman's followers and a section of media during a press conference at his ashram yesterday.</p>.<p><br />Police registered the cases on a complaint by a regional TV reporter and a Kannada outfit. Acting on a counter complaint, police also filed two cases against the reporter and the outfit activists.</p>.<p><br />Nithyananda had convened the press meet to respond to allegations made by the woman, who has lodged a complaint in the US.</p>.<p><br />"The police will initiate action as per law to bring the situation under control", Agarwal, whose effort to meet Nityananda failed, said.</p>.<p><br />Meanwhile, Home Minister R Ashok asked the police to investigate the issue and initiate action as per law.<br /><br />Nityananda is facing a CID probe into allegations of rape and criminal intimidation levelled against him in 2010 after some TV channels telecast purported video footage of the self-styled godman in a compromising position with an actress.<br /><br />He was arrested in Himachal Pradesh in 2010 and released on bail.</p>