Verdict on Nityananda’s bail plea Friday
By IANSThursday, June 10, 2010
BANGALORE - The Karnataka High Court Thursday reserved for Friday its verdict on the bail plea of sex-scam hit self-styled godman Swami Nityananda who has been behind bars for the last 50 days.
B.V. Acharya, Nityananda’s lawyer, told the court that his client never claimed he was a ’sanyasi’ (one who has renounced all worldly pleasures) and couples were welcome to attend his teachings.
Nityananda, facing several criminal charges, including rape, is a spiritual teacher, he said.
Pleading for early bail to his client, Acharya said married couples too attended his discourses and he never opposed marriage or married life.
The bail plea was opposed by the prosecution which said he was facing serious charges and investigation was still on.
The court then reserved its verdict for Friday.
Nityananda, who has a sprawling ashram at Bidadi, about 30 km from Bangalore, was arrested from Himachal Pradesh April 21, more than a month-and-a-half after a TV channel telecast video footage showing him in a sexual act with a woman, believed to a Tamil film actress.
Nityananda claimed the footage was morphed.
