Bangalore, April 01: After failing to get a stay on investigations, tainted Nityananda moves Session’s Court for anticipatory bail
After failing twice for getting a stay on the ongoing investigations, tainted Swami Nityananda today moved the Session’s Court seeking relief in the form of an anticipatory bail. Admitting the petition, the court has posted the mater to Thursday directing the Ramnagar police to file their objection.
Nityananda in his plea has stated that he is innocent and hence he be granted anticipatory bail. The Swami who has several cases slapped against him has not surrendered before the police as yet. His counsel H S Chandramouli told said “considering the high profile nature of the Swami it would be better for him to obtain anticipatory bail instead of surrendering himself before full public glare”.
Earlier the HC on Monday refused to stay the investigation of Nithyananda case, the high court on Tuesday ordered giving opportunity to the state to file its statement of objections to the criminal petition by the Swami seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him.
Justice Arali Nagaraj passed the orders and adjourned the matter for further hearing on April 6. Meanwhile, the CID officials who are investigating the case submitted the translated version of the compliant in English to the court along with further statements of complainant Lenin recorded by the Tamil Nadu police.
The court was informed that the state police have initiated the investigation process by issuing public notice on private televisions, newspapers seeking legal assistance from the public, who are willing to share relevant information and documents against the Nithyananda, who is accused of sexually exploiting devotees and hurting the religious sentiments.
The government counsel submitted that the state police in assistance of their counterparts in Tamil Nadu tried to trace the Tamil actress Ranjitha for the investigation purpose; they have been informed over the phone that the house of the actress has been locked ever since the alleged incident became public.
However, the court criticised the action of the state police in investigating the matter stating that apart from getting the compliant translated into English and asking TN police to assist on tracing the actress, the state police has done nothing as on date.
While going through the translated copy of the compliant, the court observed that though several facts in it does not attract for offence under IPC, nevertheless it will be an offence in the eyes of public.
The counsel for the Swami criticised the action of state police seeking assistance on the matter by issuing public notice. “There is nothing wrong in such action, the state could defend its saying that when the Swami can speak on behalf of himself seeking moral support through televisions and websites. The police can do it for legal assistance,” court observed.
The court even orally directed the counsel that if he is aggrieved on the fact that there is no stay is granted for investigation, the petitioner can always approach Supreme Court.
——-Agencies