Hunt on for godman caught in sex scandal

BANGALORE/CHENNAI - The Karnataka government Thursday promised “very strict” action against self-styled godman Nithyananda, absconding since Tuesday after a Tamil TV channel aired a video of him allegedly having sex with two women.

Police in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are searching for the 32-year-old, formerly Rajasekaran. He hails from Tamil Nadu. While his main ashram is located there, he has built one on a 29-acre land in Bidadi on Bangalore’s outskirts.

Nithyananda has not been seen in public since the telecast of the sensational video showing him fondling and kissing the women and also in a “compromising position” with them.

Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya told the state assembly Thursday that “very strict” action would be taken against Nithyananda after getting information from Tamil Nadu.

Acharya said the land on which Nithyananda’s ashram in Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore, was built appeared to be government land although there is some dispute over its ownership.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah demanded that the godman be jailed.

The Bidadi ashram was ransacked by angry residents of the area Wednesday morning after Kannada TV channels began telecasting the video tape.

State forest department officials Wednesday searched the ashram and seized 26 kg of sandalwood.

One of the woman in the video clip is allegedly a Tamil actress who has played a leading role in many films and TV serials.

In Tamil Nadu, members of outfits like Periyar Dravida Kazhagham, VCK and Hindu Makkal Katchi held protests in different places Wednesday and demanded Nithyananda’s arrest.

Nithyananda’s banners were burnt and many centres of his ashram in Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry were ransacked.

A message on the ashram’s website terms the video footage a mix of conspiracy, graphics and rumour.

The Nithayananda Mission claims to have about 1,000 branches across 33 countries and about two million followers the world over.