Despite Bombay HC order, disciples denied entry to Osho Samadhi

The resort administration said the disciples did not follow their rule of registering themselves first nor did they pay the entry fee.

5 min readPuneUpdated: Aug 22, 2022 10:14 AM IST

In its ruling, the court had said there was no prohibition to entry of devotees to Osho Samadhi. (Express file photo)

Armed with a copy of a Bombay High Court order, a group of disciples of spiritual guru Osho tried to enter the Osho Meditation Resort in Koregaon Park on Sunday but were turned away at the gate. The resort administration said the disciples did not follow their rule of registering themselves first nor did they pay the entry fee.

“The Bombay High Court, in its ruling dated August 11, had allowed us entry to the Osho Samadhi inside the Ashram. We had given a copy of the high court order to the administration and even to Koregaon Park police station. But still we were not allowed on the ashram premises. We were told that the Osho Samadhi is open only till 1 pm and we had reached after 1 pm,” said Yogesh Thakkar, one of the disciples who petitioned the court last year regarding an alleged attempt to dispose of some properties of the ashram. He had also told the court that Osho disciples were being denied entry to the ashram.

In its ruling, the court had said there was no prohibition to entry of devotees to Osho Samadhi.

Know Your City | How Osho’s arrival in Pune changed Koregaon Park, a suburb with decaying mansions, into the city’s swankiest area

“Neither the respondents nor any party shall alienate or create any third-party interest in respect of the movable or immovable property of the trust without following due process of law. It is also made clear that there is no prohibition for the petitioners or devotees to visit the Samadhi. The directions are also given to protect the Osho Samadhi. The petitioners or devotees certainly can visit the Osho Samadhi,” the high court said in its order.

“It is open for the petitioners to bring it to the notice of the committee conducting an inquiry, any other factual matrix including the properties of the trust, so as to include in Schedule-I, which can certainly be considered by the committee and also the joint charity commissioner,” it added.

Ma Amrit Sadhana, spokesperson for the Osho Meditation Resort, said, “We followed the high court order…Some disciples arrived at the resort gates after 1 pm, but we have a lunch break from 1 pm to 2 pm. For the meditation session between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, one should register between 9 am and 1 pm, but these disciples did not do so. As per our norms, anyone seeking entry must register by paying entry fee of Rs 970. They did not pay the entry fee also.”

Thakkar said they had reached the ashram gates at 12.45 pm, just before closure time for registration. “This is because the Koregaon Park polie had told us to come to the gates by 12.45 pm. We waited at the gate for some time but since there was no security personnel present at the main gate, we did not enter. No one was at the Welcome Centre either, where entry passes are issued. Around 1.30 pm, ashram administration told us they filed a revision petition in the high court and that we should wait for the court ruling in this case,” said Thakkar, adding that they were deliberately denied entry to Osho Samadhi.

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The resort spokesperson denied there was any attempt to stall entry of devotees. “They did not follow the rules and therefore were not allowed inside. We are filing a revision petition in the High Court in this matter,” the spokesperson said.

Regarding allegations by the disciples that they were not allowed entry, the spokesperson said they had banned some people because they had indulged in activities against the interest of the Osho Meditation Resort.

Thakkar said, “We will now again approach the Bombay High Court and bring to its notice how we were denied entry.”

When asked about the matter, Police Inspector Vinayak Vetal said it is between the disciples and the ashram. “We have no role to play. If the ashram denies them entry, they can again approach the Bombay High Court,” he said.

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Speaking about the issue, Swami Chaitanya Keerti, who is part of Osho Friends International, which is fighting against the alleged attempts to dispose of part of the ashram property and is against stopping entry of devotees to the Osho Samadhi, said, “Denial of entry to our guru’s samadhi is a violation of the High Court order. This is clear cut case of contempt of court. We will seek redressal in the court.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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