Disciples spring to the defence of Nithyananda

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_disciples-spring-to-the-defence-of-nithyananda_1357004
Disciples spring to the defence of Nithyananda
Soumya Menon / DNA
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 9:08 IST
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Sri Nithya Sacchithananda, once a chemical engineer with global exposure, on Monday denied any unholy chemistry between his guru-in-hiding and a Tamil actor, almost a week after a TV channel had aired the clippings.
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He paraded about 50 highly-educated inmates, including women, of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam before over 100 reporters, many of them from Tamil Nadu, to drive home his point: all allegations against Paramahamsa Nithyananda are false.

“Forty-five minutes,” Sacchithananda, now a full-time volunteer of the ashram in Bidadi, announced before the press conference.

The meet, however, went on for 90 minutes.“Ours is a transparent organisation and we will state facts with an open mind, fairness and professionalism,” he repeated.

High quality video
The ashram inmates expressed surprise over the quality of the video clipping, of a man, reportedly Nithyananda, in a compromising position with the actor. They felt that the whistleblower, Karuppa Lenin, previously Nithya Dharmananda, alone would not be able to carry out such a sting operation.

“It was a laser-like operation conducted with surgical precision,” Sacchithananda explained. Lenin claimed that he had used an air freshner with an embedded camera and a satellite communication device.

Sacchithananda felt that a “dissatisfied individual”, who had not completed his 12 standard, could not come up with a “highly-specialised feed.” “It is definitely done with the help of someone with sound technical knowledge,” he said.

When asked if it was the swami seen in the clip, Sacchithananda said he would not speculate: “We cannot state anything beyond the truth. We do not know about it and cannot say anything positive or negative. We will not speculate.”

Actor no brahmacharini
The ashram authorities clarified that the actor, suspected to be Ranjitha, was neither a brahmacharini nor an inmate of the ashram. “She had attended a programme seven months ago. But, she is not a brahmacharini. We do not know if it was she who was seen in the video. We also don’t know whether she had attempted suicide or if she was also part of the conspiracy,” Sacchidananda said. The ashram claimed that they were not in touch with her and “she was unavailable for comment”.

Inmates saw it coming
Some of the ashram inmates were aware of the video at least two weeks before it was aired. “A few brahmacharis and brahmacharinis had received clippings as well as blog posts by e-mail,” Sacchithananda said. He did not, however, reveal who had sent the clippings and posts. “I came to know about this only after it was televised,” he said.

Sacchithananda said that a few police officers and politicians in Chennai had received the CD about two hours before the video containing the “alleged sexual activity” between the swami and the actor was aired on March 2.

The ashram said that Nithyananda’s life was in danger and hence he was not making a public appearance. “We advised him to wait for some more days. He will answer all questions and make a detailed disclosure in two-three days,” Sacchithananda said. The swami was attending the Kumbh Mela in Varanasi, he reiterated.
Though the ashram was attacked following the expose, the authorities were yet to lodge a police complaint.

Rape allegations false
Sacchithananda denied that Nithyananda had raped a 23-year-old brahmacharini at the ashram, terming the allegation as unsubstantiated and false. “Who is this woman? Is she speaking the truth? Why doesn’t she have the courage to come out and speak to the world?,” he asked.