Banglore, March 05: Herpetologist, who had visited the ashram to rescue a snake, tipped off cops about illegal sandalwood pellets in Nityananda’s ashram
A snake that had strayed into the ashram of self-proclaimed godman Swami Nityananda eventually led to his downfall.
Immediately after a news channel exposed Nityananda’s alleged romp with Tamil actress Ranjitha, a team of forest officials raided his Bidadi ashram and seized around 60 kg of sandalwood pellets.
Interestingly, the cops had received the tip-off from Sharath Babu, a herpetologist, who works as honorary warden with the forest department. Just days before the sex-tape was made public, Babu had visited the ashram to rescue a snake. That’s when he sensed something awry and informed the cops.
Swami behind fire?
“Investigations are on to ascertain the source of these pellets. Meanwhile, we have learnt that Nityananda even used animal skin,” said an official requesting anonymity. The official added that similar raid is being conducted at the Tamil Nadu ashram of Nityananda.
Also, forest officials suspect that it’s could be Nityananda’s men who had set the ashram on fire.
“They might have stored some illegal goods in the house and would have set fire in the building to destroy the evidence. We have detained three people from the ashram for questioning. Also, we have filed a case against the ashram management and have booked them under Section 86 of the Karnataka Forest Act,” the official said. Meanwhile, a massive hunt has been launched to track Nityananda who went underground after the sex-tape became public. There are rumours that he’s in Mysore, while some say that he has gone to attend Kumbh Mela.
Illegal ashram
Dr V S Acharya, home minister of Karnataka, announced yesterday that the land on which the ashram stands is of the government and was meant for cattle grazing farm. He said, he has asked the deputy commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the matter.
When contacted, Chief Wildlife Warden B K Singh refused to comment on this issue.
——–Agencies