The Hindu

Bangalore, Mar 21: The case involving Sri Visvesha Thirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math took a new turn on Tuesday when the Karnataka High Court ordered issue of notices to K.S. Venkatesh, Rukmini and G.T. Nayak, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chamarajpet sub-division, Bangalore, asking them to appear before the Registrar Vigilance of the Karnataka High Court.

On March 5, the court ordered an inquiry by the Registrar (Vigilance) of the High Court into allegations by Srinidhi in his habeas corpus petition that two persons, K.S. Venkatesh and Rukmini, were picked up the city police and beaten when they complained against the swamiji.

Prof. Venkatesh and Rukmini had sought compensation for what they claimed was wrongful confinement by the police. They said they were illegally picked up after a private complaint was filed in a Bangalore court against the swamiji and six others. Following their private complaint, the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM), Bangalore, had directed the K.G. Nagar police to investigate. In the complaint, Prof. Venkatesh had alleged that he was detained and assaulted after his friend had failed to repay a loan of Rs. 12 lakh he (friend) had taken from the swamiji.

The police had registered cases under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (grievous hurt), 367 (abduction), 340 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chamarajpet sub-division, G.T. Nayak, had been asked to investigate and file before February 23 a report before the court.

Srinidhi had alleged that Prof. Venkatesh and Ms. Rukmini were tortured by the police and when he went to visit them in the police station, they were badly injured.

He alleged that the police had released them soon after he filed a habeas corpus petition.

He said the policemen had brutally assaulted Prof. Venkatesh and Rukmini before the Governor's office on Raj Bhavan Road.

The State Public Prosecutor (SPP) had submitted that Mr. Venkatesh had cheated people to the tune of Rs. 90 lakh and the cases were pending against him with various police stations in Bangalore. He said the petition could not survive as the alleged detainees were already produced before the court. He said some persons who were cheated by Prof. Venkatesh had come to meet the Commissioner of Police and when they were going on Raj Bhavan Road they saw Prof. Venkatesh and beat him up.

A Division Bench comprising Justice R. Gururajan and Justice Anand Byrareddy ordered issue of notices to Prof. Venkatesh, Ms. Rukmini and Mr. G.T. Nayak and adjourned further hearing on the case.