Nityananda case: Supreme Court pulls up State govt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Karnataka government for its failure to file a response to a plea by self-styled godman Nityananda seeking the quashing of a four-year-old rape case against him.

A bench of Justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and N V Ramana reprimanded the State government for not filing an affidavit on the Nityananda’s petition. “This is the last opportunity we are giving,” the court said while adjourning the matter to August 20 with a direction that no further time would be granted to the government.

The apex court had on August 4 stayed the Karnataka High Court’s order directing Nityananda to undergo a potency test. The court also refused to entertain an intervention application filed by actress Ranjitha stating that it was not conducting the trial in the matter.