Swami Nithyananda approaches high court against Ramanagaram court's rape charges against him

Nithyananda Swami of Nithyanada Dhyanapeeta, Bidadi near Bengaluru, on Wednesday moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the Ramanagaram court’s order to frame charges against him in an eight-year-old rape case while rejecting his plea to discharge him from the case.

Justice R B Budihal was hearing a revision petition filed by Nithyananda and his associates, — Gopala Sheelam Reddy alias Nithya Bhakthananda; Shiva Vallabhaneni alias Nithya Sachidananda; Danasekaran alias Nithya Sadananda; Ragini alias Maa Nithya Sachidananda; and Jamuna Rani alias Maa Nithyananda. The other accused too want the case against them discharged. But their applications were rejected.

The court claimed that  there were prima facie materials to proceed against them.

The counsel for some of the accused contended that the trial court had not provided a reasonable opportunity of hearing on their plea.

it also claimed that the trial court decided to frame the charges without properly applying its mind on the charge sheet and related documents. The case was adjourned for hearing till March 2, according to the Hindu. 

• Swami Nithyananda
• Rape case