Gujarat high court directs cops to produce victims, Nithyananda goes missing

Gujarat high court on Thursday (November 21) has asked Vivekanand Police Station in Ahmedabad Rural district to present the two victims before November 26. This comes after the victims' parents petitioned the court claiming that their daughters have been subject to illegal confinement by self-styled Godman Nithyananda. The court also said that if the police fail to produce the victims on the above date, action would be taken.

At the same time, the police in the state raided the ashram and arrested Nithyananda's aides. However, there is no information about Nithyananda's whereabouts. Reports suggest that he has fled India. The MEA has also responded to the TV channel Republic stating that there's been no formal communication from the Gujarat Police and the home minister.

Petitioners Janardana Sharma and his wife told the Gujarat high court on Monday (November 18) that their two elder daughters, Lopamudra Janardhana Sharma and Nandita  who were studying in Nithyananda's Yogini Sarvagyapeetham institution had refused to accompany them home.

Soon after, in a video, the eldest daughter Ma Nithya Tattvapriya Ananda, said that her father had started blackmailing her and her sister. The girl called her father by name and said Janardanan always tried forcing the two girls to file a case under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Both the sisters had uploaded a number of videos on social media, claiming they are happily living in the ashram.  

Another video is going viral on social media, where another Nithyananda follower has alleged that she was brainwashed by "Swamiji".

• Gujarat
• Nithyananda
• high court