Nithyananda charged with rape

CID examined 101 witnesses from India and abroad

He has been booked for rape and unnatural sex amongst other charges.
Nithyananda alias Raja Shekaran has been booked under Section 376 IPC (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 417 (cheating), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), while Nithya Bhaktananda alias Gopala Seelam Reddy has been chargesheeted under Section 212 IPC (harbouring an offender), 120 (B), Nithya Sachidananda alias Shiva Vallabhaneni under Section 201 IPC (destroying evidence) and 120 (B), Nithya Sadananda alias Dhana Shekaran under Section 201 (destroying evidence) and 120 (B) and Maa Sachidananda alias Ragini under Section 120 (B) IPC and Sections 37 read with 376 and 377 (assisting the accused in committing rape and unnatural sex).

Bail granted

Cases were registered at Bidadi police station in March based on complaints by K Lenin of Chennai and T M  Vishwanath of Coimbatore. Nithyananda and Nithya Bhakthananda were arrested in Himachal Pradesh but both obtained bail from the court. Nithya Sachidananda was arrested recently and he is remanded in judicial custody.

K N Yogappa, the Investigating Officer examined 101 witnesses from India and abroad and collected more than 60 documents. Several agreements between the devotees and ashram authorities wherein the former gave consent for tantrik sex, were also seized during investigation, officials said.

A woman witness whose identity has been kept confidential, deposed before the investigating officer that she was repeatedly raped by the Nithyananda not only at his Bidadi ashram in Bidadi but in other parts of the country too.

Video found genuine

A video CD submitted by the complainant was subjected to forensic analysis and it was found to be genuine. It was found that the image of the swamy in the video was conclusive of his presence.

The accused, Maa Sachidanand and Nithya Sadananda, have not been arrested.
Officials said the investigation  was conducted under the direct supervision of K S R Charan Reddy, DIGP, CID, Bangalore.