The Madras High Court on Monday warned self-styled godman Nithyananda that an arrest warrant will be issued against him, if he did not rectify his affidavits in an ongoing case. Justice R Mahadevan said this while listening to a case regarding restrictions on the controversial preacher entering the Madurai Adheenam Mutt.
The judge made the angry observation after finding that Nityananda had failed to rectify “misleading statements” in affidavits submitted to court, despite multiple warnings.
The case
The Court warned Nithyananda while hearing a plea filed in 2017, on an issue that dates back to 2012.
In April 2012, Nithyananda had been appointed as the junior pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam Mutt by the senior pontiff, Arunagirinatha Gurugnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya. However, later that year in October, the senior pontiff removed Nithyananda from the position.
“I appointed Swami Nithyananda as my successor. Today, I have removed him from the position. By doing so, I have restored the glory of the ancient mutt,” the 292nd pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam said. When asked the reason for his decision, the pontiff hinted at the sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations against Nithyananda.
However, in 2017, Nithyananda moved the Madras High Court claiming that he needed police protection to enter the Mutt, as he was not being allowed to conduct his rituals there. He further contended that once appointed, a junior pontiff cannot be removed from his position.
While Nithyananda moved court, a petition was also filed by M Jagathalapradhapan, seeking a direction to the government to take suitable and appropriate action against Nithyananda for trying to enter the Madurai Adheenam Mutt through the backdoor. He also wanted the court to permanently prevent Nithyananda from interfering in the affairs of the mutt.
In response to this plea, Nithyananda had claimed to be the 293rd pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam mutt.
However, the court had slammed his reply, and the judge had said, "It does not look proper. Why action should not be taken against Nithyananda for giving false information to the court?"
The court had also given an interim order, banning the entry of Nithyananda into the Madurai Mutt.
Monday’s hearing
When the case came up for hearing on Monday again, the judge noted that the submission had not been changed despite his warning last year.
Following this, he warned Nithyananda to file a fresh petition with the truth in two days or face arrest for attempting to misdirect the court.
He further warned him that he will shut down all his ashrams.
Nithyananda's counsel had claimed he had been anointed as the 293rd pontiff and that it could not be cancelled.