CID Seeks 4 Weeks Time to Complete Probe in Nityananda Case
Bangalore, July 23, (PTI): CID, investigating two FIRs registered against self-styled godman Nityananda, on Friday sought four weeks time from the Madras High Court to record statements of two former disciples, suspected to have been subjected to ''unnatural sex'' by him.
When the criminal petition filed by Nityananda seeking quashing of two FIRs, including one on rape, came up before Justice Arali Nagaraj, Investigating Officer and SP (CID) K N Yogappa said he needed four weeks to record statements of Nitya Vimalananda and Nitya Gopika residing in the US to ascertain if the godman had committed any offence under Sec 377 of IPC (unnatural offences).
Yogappa said he would either seek the Centre's permission to visit US or try to bring the former disciple duo back to record statements, without which the investigation would not be complete.
In his petition, Nityananda contended that none of the charges in the FIRs have been substantiated and prayed that they be quashed.
After hearing the arguments, judge Nagaraj granted four weeks time to Yogappa to complete the investigation and adjourned further hearing to August 20.
Nityananda, who was arrested from Solan district in Himachal Pradesh on April 21 following a controversy in March over local TV channels airing a purported video footage of him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress, was granted bail last month.
Ranjitha says Video is 'morphed'
Bangalore, July 23 (PTI): Tamil actress Ranjitha, whose alleged sleaze acts with self-styled godman Nityananda triggered off a public outcry has denied any sexual relations with him and termed the video footage aired by television channels as ''morphed''.
In her statement to Bangalore CID, probing the case, Ranjitha rejected charges of sexual harassment by Nityananda and said the woman shown on the video was not her.
She denied any sexual relations with Nityananda and said that she had "only visited Nityananda's room once or twice", CID sources told PTI.
On the video footage aired by regional TV channels, purportedly showing her in a compromising position with Nityananda, Ranjitha said "the entire video is morphed".
The sources said the forensic science laboratory's analysis of the tapes has, however, concluded it was not morphed, "indicating that Ranjitha is not coming out with the truth".
Based on the statement by Lenin Karuppanan, a former disciple of Nityananda and video footages, Chennai Police had registered a case of rape against Nityananda in March and later transferred it to Karnataka Police.
CID, which filed Ranjitha's statement through a memo before the Karnataka High Court today, sought four weeks time to record statements of two more former devotees living in the US in the wake of allegations that they were subjected to "unnatural sex" by Nityananda.
CID SP K N Yogappa said the agency would seek Centre's permission to go to the US to try and bring back Nitya Vimalananda and Nitya Gopika here to record their statements.
Nityananda in a broadcast on YouTube had described the actress as a "sincere and humble devotee" and that he was gravely hurt by the pain caused to her and her family.
Nityananda, who has resumed his preaching, had also referred to Ranjitha as "a wonderful devotee who has done much voluntary work for the organisation".