Bangalore, June 18, DHNS: In a major reprieve to self-declared godman Nityananda, the CID on Friday withdrew the freeze on his various bank accounts.
During a hearing at the High Court on Friday, Additional Advocate General K M Nataraj, appearing for CID submitted that the investigations would continue and they reserve the right to freeze the accounts again, if the need arose.
The matter was disposed of with Nityananda’s counsel withdrawing an application seeking de-freezing of the accounts. Justice Ajit J Gunjal directed the petitioner to cooperate with the CID in further investigations.
The CID had frozen Nityananda’s accounts in three banks as part of its investigations into alleged financial irregularities. All the 12 accounts in the name of three trusts - Dhyanapeeta Charitable Trust, Nityananda Dhyanapeeta, and Nityanandeshwara Devasthana - were frozen.
Nityananda is already out on conditional bail, but will have to contend with the investigations that the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax authorities and the Ramanagara district administration are conducting for alleged financial irregularities and land-related offences.
Following the de-freezing of accounts, the Bidadi-based Nityananda Dhyanapeetam announced that it would resume all service activities, including medical camps and annadaan (feeding of the needy) as soon as the accounts become operational.
Report sought
The High Court has directed the Mandya police to file a report on the status of investigation in a habeas corpus petition. Mariappa, the missing person, however, was produced before the Court. Mariappa was elected member of Bekkale Gram Panchayat in Maddur taluk on May 17. His wife, Jayalakshmamma had approached the High Court alleging that her husband had been abdducted.
The petitioner said Mariappa was abducted by rival GP members Puttaswamy, B M Veeranna and others on June 7, so that he would be unable to contest in the elections for the posts of president and vice-president scheduled for June 23. She further alleged that she had lodged a complaint with the police on June 9, and Mariappa was traced yet.
The Division Bench had earlier observed that the Court heard many such cases every time the Gram Panchayat elections were held and that such practices must be put to an end.
Mariyappa told the Court that he had been abducted and kept in Venkateshwara Lodge in Maddur. His abductor, K Puttaswamy was keen on getting elected as president and there was a tussle between members supporting the Congress and the JD(S) The matter has been posted to June 25.
HC frowns at frivolous petitions
Bangalore: All she wanted was her son back, but Bibi Jaan got more than she bargained for, as the Karnatka High Court on Friday came down heavily on misuse of habeas corpus petitions. Bibi Jaan of Hubli dashed off a telegram to the Chief Justice on June 11, saying that her son Ismail Babu Sab was forcibly taken away from their house at 3 am. The High Court took up a suo motu habeas corpus case and the boy was produced in Court on Friday.
The boy, however, testified that he was taken to the police station on June 10 at 9 am and detained only for an hour. He stated that his elder brother was involved in a theft case and hence he was taken for questioning. He then went on to state that his mother was mentally unstable.
The Division Bench comprising Justices K L Manjunath and K N Keshavanarayana was not amused at the discrepancy in the statements of the mother and son. The Bench observed that truth would be ascertained in Court on Monday as both the son and mother would have to answer questions. It warned that whoever was found to be lying would go to jail.
The Bench observed that habeas corpus petitions were being misused by resorting to frequent claims of life and liberty being in danger. The son has now been told by the High Court to bring his mother to Court on Monday.