The Karnataka police investigating the rape case against controversial self-styled godman Nithyananda on Friday told the trial court, which is hearing the case, that they could not arrest him as per the oral directions of the Karnataka High Court.
The Karnataka High Court is hearing a plea filed by Nithyananda, who is seeking a stay in the trial court proceedings, and told the CID to hold off Nithyananda’s arrest till the hearing in the high court reaches a conclusion. The CID has informed the trial court of the same.
This is not the first time that Nithyananda has tried to delay the trial proceedings. The HC will be hearing Nithyananda’s plea on September 17.
However, on a positive note for the survivor and the whistleblower in the case, the court allowed both of them to engage a pleader of their choice to assist the public prosecutor. They were also allowed to submit written arguments after the closure of evidence.
The trial court conceded that the next hearing should be conducted only after the HC comes to a conclusion. The court will hear the matter again on September 27 and a fresh summons was issued against Nithyananda while relaxing the non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him.
The Third Additional District and Session Court in Ramanagara had directed the CID to execute a non-bailable warrant on September 6 after Nithyananda failed to appear in court despite multiple warnings.
Nithyananda has cited a ritual – Chathurmasa Parikrama – as his reason for his absence from court, and his advocate claimed that he is in Varanasi. In the same case, an NBW has also been issued against third accused Nithya Satchidananda and he, too, is absconding and has not appeared in court since August 8.
He is facing trial for allegedly raping his disciple and has been chargesheeted by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Karnataka Police under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating), 114 (criminal abetment), 201 (disappearance of evidence, giving false information), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
Although the FIR was registered in 2010, he has successfully delayed the trial by approaching higher courts and changing his stance like from ‘being impotent’ to having consensual sex with his disciple.
Finally, the trial started at the insistence of the Supreme Court, which instructed the trial court to frame charges against him and conduct a speedy trial.