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Journalism of Courage
The Karnataka Police have sought a fresh warrant for the arrest of self-styled godman Nityananda. A criminal trial is already pending against him for alleged illegal activities at his ashram.
The move to seek the arrest warrant against Nityananda was announced after a high-level meeting held by Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda with police officials to tackle the fallout of a campaign drummed up by a local channel against the godman.
Gowda told reporters after the meeting that Nityananda would be arrested in two days. He also said the moves would be initiated to seek the cancellation of bail granted to him by the Karnataka High Court in connection with a case of rape and criminal intimidation that was registered in 2010 and is currently on trial.
Gowda said a report on the activities at the ashram had been sought from Regional Commissioner Shambhu Dayal Meena while the local authorities in Ramanagara district including the police have been asked to secure Nityananda’s ashram.
The latest episode started after an alleged victim of exploitation by the godman,a former US based devotee,told the channel in an interview about her experiences. Things came to a boil when Nityananda called a press conference to clarify the issue but tried to evict a reporter of the channel when he raised questions about the allegations made on the channel.
The incident turned ugly after members of a local pro-Kannada group Karnataka Nava Nirmana Vedike turned up at the ashram to support the channel and a full-fledged fight broke out with ashram members.
On June 8,police registered cases against Nitya-nanda,his followers and the pro-Kannada outfit for the fight following complaints and counter-complaints.
