'TV Channel Demanded Rs 50 Crore from Nithyananda'

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'TV Channel Demanded Rs 50 Crore from Nithyananda'


CHENNAI: Even as speculation continues over the whereabouts of Swami Nithyananda, who is at the centre of a controversy now, his lawyer on Friday claimed that the godman had not absconded but was in Varanasi. “He is attending the Kumbh Mela, along with 4,000 devotees from world over, and is scheduled to return on March 18,” M Shreedhar, who is representing the godman in Madras High Court, told News paper.

Asked about Nithyananda’s association with the woman seen with him in the video that had created a furore, Shreedhar said the film star started visiting the ashram to overcome depression caused by a failed marriage and soon became a devotee of the swami. Nithyananda was seen in a compromising position with the actress in the video aired by a Tamil TV channel recently.

Asserting that the clippings in the video were morphed, the advocate said the image of the actress too was fake.

“The woman in the clippings always has her neck covered, which is typical of a morphed video,” he said.

“Besides, her bindi is intact in all the scenes. The bedroom too is brightly lit,” he added.

Asked about the whereabouts of the actress, he said she would not appear in public now, as she would be forced to file a complaint against the swami. “This, she would never do,” he added.

Alleging that ego clash among inmates in the ashram could have resulted in the making of the video, he conceded that money too could have had a major role to play.

Shreedhar alleged that the group that made the video and the TV channel that aired it had “struck a deal”.

The TV channel demanded Rs 50 crore from the swami, the advocate claimed.

Nithyananda Sting Leaves Narendra Modi Red-faced

VADODARA: The expose allegedly showing Paramhans Nithyananda in a compromising position on video tapes has left the state BJP leaders, including chief minister Narendra Modi, red-faced.

Not only did Modi share stage with the controversial godman in September last year the CM showered praise on him but also accepted a donation from Nithyananda's organisation for the state's Kanya Kelavani programme.

Few would have imagined that the photo op would go sour within six months.

Nithyananda had visited Vadodara on two occasions in the recent past. He first came to the city in September last year and held a programme at Navlakhi Ground on September 10 and C C Mehta Auditorium on September 11. The most recent visit was on January 27 for a meditation camp.

Modi had attended a satsang and a book release function organised by Nithyananda Dhyanpeetam on September 10. At the gathering, he praised the swami saying that he was committed to the traditions of Adi Shankaracharya and the principles of advaita'. Modi had released the book Jivan Mukti' on the occasion.

But, Modi was not the only leader present on the dais. The then Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd chairman N V Patel, state parliamentary secretary Yogesh Patel and Vadodara MP as well as mayor Balkrishna Shukla were also given space on the stage flanking Modi and Nityananda.

N V Patel said that he had gone to attend the programme on an invitation from the organisers. "We always respect saints. But, this does not mean that we endorse whatever they do. It would be wrong to affiliate us with them. Too much controversy is being raked up around the issue unnecessarily," he said.

Yogesh Patel pointed out that this was just another invitation that he had accepted. "I did not know about Swami Nityananda or his organisation. Many people invite us to different functions and insist we remain present," he said.
06th March 2010 11:55:54 PM