Bangalore, March 3: People belonging to Bidadi village and surroundings, about 35 km from here attacked an 'ashram' belonging to a 'young swamiji' after a television channel showed shots of him in a compromising position with an actres today.
A large number of local people thronged the sprawling ashram of Swami Nityananda on the outskirts of the city after the TV expose of his 'sex acts', smashed the front office and tore down the flex material on which a large portrait of the Godman was printed, and burnt them.
Nityananda Swami, who is quite popular attracting a large number of devotees with his lucid style of interpreting philosophies of life and makes appearances on TV channels, was purportedly shown on the channel in a compromising position.
A footage showing the Swamiji in compromising position with a popular Tamil actress was released by Sun News on Tuesday, Mar 2, leading to violence at the Swamiji's ashrams. The video showed that the man is Swami Nithyananda. However, the woman's face is blurred and the identity of the actress is yet to be confirmed.
The video, which came as a massive shock to the godman's followers, has led to widespread protests. In Coimbatore, angry followers took to streets and vandalised property.
Unruly mob set fire to Kuteeras at Nithyananda Peeta near Bidadi on Wednesday following a report on sex scandal of Swami Nithyananda
Angry mob set fire to banner of Swami Nithyananda at Nityananda Peeta near Bidadi on Wednesday following a report on sex scandal of Godman
"He is missing," said Devaraj, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Ramanagaram district, under whose limits the ashram is located at Bidadi near Bangalore.
The Bangalore-based ashram manager Sevananda today filed a complaint with police, stating he had received calls from Chennai, threatening to expose the alleged sleazy activities of Swami, in his early thirties, hailing from Thiruvanamalai in Tamil Nadu.
In the complaint, Sevananada said the caller threatened to provide the "footage" to the media and had demanded money not to release it. Sevananada said the clippings showing Swami in poor light are "morphed".
The ashram has several branches across India and 13 abroad.
After the video clippings were aired, many people gathered before the ashram.
Meanwhile at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, said a committee would be formed to look into what action can be taken into the incident.
Endorsing the view that such incidents involving self-styled godmen are "on the rise" in the state, he said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department "will see what action can be taken in such cases."
Meanwhile, activists of "Jaya Karnataka" an organisation founded by former underworld don Muthappa Rai, damaged banners and buntings and window panes of the ashram building, alleging that Rai's name was being misused to threaten some devotees.
Police said they have rushed forces to protect properties of the ashram and are yet to register a case.
Six advocates of the Madras High Court filed a complaint with the Chennai police commissioner, seeking action against Nityananda. Rama Sivasankar, one of the advocates, said they had sought action under Sec 294(b) IPC, which relates to obscenity.
Earlier, protests broke out in different parts of Tamil Nadu, demanding the arrest of Swami and closure of his ashrams in various parts of the state and country.
The protesters burnt his effigies in Coimbatore and Kumbakonam, while some of Swami's posters were torn down in Tiruvannamalai.
At Coimbatore, various groups including Hindu Makkal Katchi and Periyar Dravida Kazhagam staged protests. About 25 persons were arrested for trying to burn his effigy.
Nithyananda has a big following in India, and in many countries around the world, including Malaysia and the US.
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