The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday directed police officials in the state to trace the two women who are reportedly missing from the Nithyananda Ashram in Ahmedabad. The court gave the directions while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the father of the women - Janardhan Sharma. The two women, Lopamudra Sharma (21) and Nandhitha Sharma (18), are believed to be in Trinidad and Tobago.
A division bench of Justices SR Brahmbhatt and AP Thaker asked the police to work with Interpol, Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies, to find the two missing women and ensure they are protected.
The court directions came after the women did not appear in court on Tuesday. Instead, they were represented by a senior lawyer and filed affidavits which were submitted to the court in a sealed cover.
The police told the court that while one of the daughters fled the country last year, the other daughter fled on November 5 after the parents approached the court. The two daughters, in multiple videos posted from unknown locations, have stated that are safe and that they do not want to go back to their parents.
In one of the videos they posted on Facebook, the women accused the father of launching a witchhunt against them and Nithyananda. They also said that they will not come to India unless authorities meet their conditions including that they should be given police protection.
In the affidavits, the duo stated they are willing to appear through video conference at the embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, the police stated. However, the judge rejected their application and ordered that they should appear in person on December 10, when the next hearing in the case will take place.
The judge noted that the affidavits did not look like the work of the young women and asked for them to appear in person. The judge added that the police can take steps to find them.
The petition filed by Janardhan Sharma, the father of the women, alleged that authorities of the 'Yogini Sarvagyapeetham' did not allow parents to meet the children. The children were initially enrolled at the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetham at Nithyananda Nagara, Bidadi, Bengaluru in 2013. Janardhana said that all four children were shifted to Ahmedabad without notice last year. Two minor children were returned but the two adult daughters were kept in the ashram.
The court has, however, asked them to appear in person during the next hearing and also stated that they will be given protection and that their choice will be respected.