Now, another woman alleges torture at Kochi yoga centre

Another woman has come forward with a complaint against the Siva Sakthi Yogavidya Kendram in Kochi, saying she was confined and tortured at the centre.

Vandana (27), who hails from Andhra Pradesh and lives in Bengaluru, said her father took her to the so-called yoga centre near Thrippunithura after she told him she is marrying a Christian man. In the police compliant, she has alleged that the yoga centre kept her there for more than a month and tortured her.

Kochi yoga centre sexually abuses female converts, blackmails them with nudes: former teacher tells HC

"I was forcibly confined in the centre from March 30 to May 1. When I tried to escape, the people in the yoga centre dragged me like an animal and brutally assaulted me. They forced me to marry a Hindu person against my wish. They released me only after I agreed to their demand," The Times of India quoted her as saying.

Vandana revealed that she is now trying to get the marriage she was forced into to be annulled in a family court in Bengaluru. She also said that she is willing to be a witness in the case filed by Kerala doctor Shwetha Haridasan, who recently alleged that she was tied up and beaten at the yoga centre for marrying a Christian man.

Ghar wapsi: '65 women held captive, tortured in Kochi yoga centre'

“I came to know about the case filed by Shwetha Haridasan against the torture at the yoga centre from news reports. I contacted a news channel to get her contact details,“ Vandana pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court has reserved the case of doctor Shwetha to October 17.

The court will hear the complaint filed by Shwetha's husband Rinto and the petition submitted by her parents on the same day. The bench has asked the police to file the report of the investigation soon.

• Kochi
• Yoga centre
• Ghar wapsi
• Torture
• Sexual abuse
• Blackmail