Godman in sex row has two states in ferment

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Godman in sex row has two states in ferment

Bidadi Ashram Sees Conspiracy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai/Bangalore: A salacious tape containing alleged sexual acts of godman Nityananda Paramahamsa,telecast by a Tamil TV channel repeatedly since Tuesday night,triggered violence across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,with disciples in his ashrams located in the two states being roughed up and his property damaged by the irate public.
The tape shows a man similar in appearance to the young long-haired godman in a few minutes of sexual romp,allegedly with a Tamil actress.The incident also evoked a sharp response from Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.When asked in Tiruchi about the alleged excesses by the godman,the CM said a meeting of a high-level committee comprising members of the state-run Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment department and other top officials would be convened to discuss and decide on the course of action the government plans to take to curb the trend.
Nityananda made a vain bid late in the evening to restrain the media from airing the tape,but a city civil court did not grant any stay,but merely ordered notices to some news organizations.In his petition,he claimed the video footage was a fake and morphed one.He accused an inmate of his ashram,Premananda alias Lenin Karuppan,of morphing his face to defame him.The petition has been posted to March 8.The godman said he had 45 lakh devotees in 17 countries and was involved in social work and education,besides spiritual activities.
In Chennai,a group of lawyers lodged a complaint against the godman at the city police commissionerate,seeking criminal action against him.Alleging that he has amassed several crores,they demanded that the government confiscate his properties and freeze accounts.In Coimbatore,the godmans posters were ripped off street walls;staff in a yoga centre run by his devotees fled fearing an attack.
Reacting to the video,a statement from the Nityananda Dhyanapeetam at Bidadi said: A mix of conspiracy,graphics and rumour are at play in these events.We are working on a legal course of action.
An uneasy calm prevailed in and around the 14-acre ashram at Dasanakoppalu,near Bidadi.Police cordoned off the ashram to prevent the public from creating trouble.But as soon as news spread,locals began breaking glasses at the ashram entrance.Some devotees,who said their sentiments were hurt,smashed windows.Tension prevailed in Bidadi when villagers living around the ashram and members of a pro-Kannada group descended on the scene.They demanded the ashram be moved out.In Rajapalayam in TNs Virudhunagar district,Nityanandas disciples and staff fled his sprawling 5-acre ashram after handing over the keys to the police,who shut the main gates soon after the alleged sexual exploits began to be telecast.

THREE HUTS ON FIRE

Fire destroyed three huts located on the Dhyanapeeta Ashram,triggering two theories: ashramites suspect an attack;bystanders suspect ashramites may have set fire to destroy some evidence against them.THE TRUTH: a recklessly thrown cigarette butt had touched off the fire

FROM TN TOWN TO SUBLIME HEIGHTS

Swamy Nityananda from Tamil Nadus Tiruvannamalai took to spirituality after being influenced by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.Started off in Bangalore with healing techniques.Set up Bidadi ashram in 2003

Live the values,dont pretend to be a guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | Art of Living



IMAGE IN SMITHEREENS:

Angry protesters tear down a poster of Nityananda Swami at his ashram in Bidadi,near Bangalore,on Wednesday