Nithyananda Ashram case: Gujarat HC dismisses father’s plea, rules daughters not in illegal confinement
The Gujarat High Court ruled that the two women allegedly abducted and taken overseas after self-styled godman Nithyananda fled India were happy following their spiritual path and not under duress
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The petition moved by Janardhana Sharma in November 2019 had alleged that his daughters Lopamudra alias Tatvapriya and Nandhitha alias Nityanandita were kept in illegal confinement at the Ahmedabad ashram of self-styled godman Nithyananda. (File)More than four years after a habeas corpus petition was filed by a father at Gujarat High Court seeking the custody of his two daughters allegedly kept in illegal confinement at a Nithyananda Ashram in Ahmedabad, a division bench on Friday dismissed the plea, ruling that the two women are adults, and the court’s interaction with them did not reveal they were under duress or influence and that they were happy following their spiritual path.
The petition moved by Janardhana Sharma in November 2019 had alleged that his daughters Lopamudra alias Tatvapriya and Nandhitha alias Nityanandita were kept in illegal confinement at the Ahmedabad ashram of self-styled godman Nithyananda and the two had then been abducted out of the country after Nithyananda fled India. The two were located in Jamaica and their father had sought their custody.
Pursuant to high court proceedings, the two had appeared on video conference before the bench of Justices A Y Kogje and R M Sareen on January 10.
While dismissing the plea on Friday, the bench recorded that the January 10 interaction with the two “would indicate that they were not in any illegal confinement”.
The bench also observed in its order, “Not only that but they had also indicated that they are out of their free will residing at (Jamaica) and have decided to continue to reside there and follow the spiritual path which they have consciously decided to follow. They have also indicated about the spiritual sessions which they undertake which are followed by many people all across the world. The court finding the same to be reliable is unable to conclude that the corpora are in any manner are under any duress or any influence…Having interviewed the corpora, the court is satisfied that both are adults, mature enough to understand their well being and apparently are happy at the place where they are presently residing and on their spiritual path.”
While senior advocate B B Naik, appearing for the daughters, remarked on Friday that the matter has finally come to an end after four years, Justice Kogje responded orally, “Spiritual roads are always lengthy.”
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