LI Network
Published on: February 3, 2024 at 12:25 IST
The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a plea filed by a father in 2019, accusing self-proclaimed Godman Swami Nithyananda of unlawfully confining his two daughters.
The matter was heard before a division bench comprising Justice AY Kogje and Justice Rajendra M. Sareen.
During the hearing, Justice Kogje noted that the communication with the daughters revealed they were not unlawfully confined. They explicitly stated that they were residing at the place voluntarily and had chosen to follow a spiritual path of their own free will.
The Court found their statements reliable and concluded that the daughters were not under any duress or influence. Justice Kogje expressed satisfaction with the situation, emphasizing that the daughters, as adults, were mature enough to understand their well-being and were content with their current residence and spiritual journey.
In light of this, the Court discharged the notice and dismissed the petition. The registry was directed to preserve the virtual interaction with the daughters, recorded as part of the case record.
Background:
In 2019, Janardana Sharma and his wife approached the Gujarat High Court seeking assistance in reuniting with their two daughters, allegedly unlawfully confined at an ashram operated by Swami Nithyananda.
The couple had enrolled their daughters in an educational institution run by Nithyananda in Bengaluru. Upon discovering their relocation to Yogini Sarvagyapeetham in Ahmedabad, the parents sought legal intervention.
While the police rescued their younger daughters, the elder daughters, Lopamudra (21) and Nandhitha Sharma (18), remained allegedly detained, leading to the habeas corpus plea filed by Sharma.
