Petition to TN CM asks if FIR be filed against ISHA school | Powertrip #94

Welcome to this week’s Powertrip, a political newsletter exclusively curated for TNM and NL subscribers by Dhanya Rajendran, Shabbir Ahmed, and Pooja Prasanna. As the Coimbatore police drag their feet over complaints of child sexual abuse at the Isha Home School, we learnt that the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) recently met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and gave him a separate representation seeking action against ISHA Foundation. In Karnataka, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was passed successfully in the state Assembly but there are concerns about the practical challenges in implementation. Learn what efforts the ruling Congress is taking to ensure smooth implementation of the bill..Inside TrackExclusive stories, for your eyes only.TN police inaction on ISHA casesWhy is the Coimbatore police yet to register an FIR against the Isha Home School (IHS) and a teacher for child sexual abuse?TNM has learnt that the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in the first week of March and gave him a separate representation seeking action against ISHA Foundation. This was based on the complaint lodged by a 25-year-old Indian origin US resident to the Coimbatore police in January 2025. In her complaint, the woman alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a teacher at IHS between 2008-2010 when she was around seven years old.In the last two months, two people have approached the Coimbatore police against Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation with complaints of child sexual abuse. One complaint was raised by a couple from Rajahmundry, after they learnt that their son (who is now 21) was molested by a fellow classmate in 2019 when he was 16. Despite repeated complaints, they allege that the foundation sidelined their complaint. The police have not filed an FIR for almost two months on this complaint. The second complaint is from the Indian origin US resident. Again, an FIR has not been registered yet. AIDWA members are waiting to hear from top officials in the Tamil Nadu government on the progress in the case and have decided to escalate the matter if no action is taken.Last December, Isha Foundation had filed a defamation suit against popular Tamil journalist Nakkheeran in the Delhi High Court and sought Rs 3 crore in damages for discussing allegations surrounding the mistreatment of children at Isha.Recently, Isha filed another defamation suit against independent journalist Shyam Meera Singh in the Delhi High Court for his coverage of the child sexual abuse cases at IHS. The court directed Shyam to take down the video on March 12..Greater Bengaluru Bill gets the nod, but challenges lie aheadThe Karnataka government’s Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, which was passed in the state Assembly and Council, has received mixed reactions from town planners, administrators, and civic activists. While some have welcomed the move as a step toward better urban management, others have expressed concerns about the practical challenges in implementation.Despite the divided opinions, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, who chaired the Karnataka Legislature’s joint review committee on the Bill, successfully navigated it through the Assembly. However, their task is far from over.A key provision of the bill is the division of Bengaluru into multiple administrative zones to ensure more localised governance. Although the bill does not specify the exact number of zones, it allows for the creation of up to seven. Now, the focus has shifted to the internal political discussions within the ruling party.The Chief Minister and Arshad are reportedly working to persuade their party colleagues that establishing at least three to four zones is necessary to achieve meaningful decentralisation. Their argument emphasises the fact that smaller administrative units will lead to more efficient delivery of civic services, quicker resolution of local issues, and increased accountability.Meanwhile, efforts are also underway to engage leaders from across the political spectrum. Messages have reportedly been sent to leaders from the opposition, including BJP leaders such as party president BY Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, seeking their cooperation in both the passage and the smooth implementation of the bill.Interestingly, sources indicate that several BJP leaders, in private conversations, have acknowledged that they are not entirely opposed to the provisions of the bill. Although political compulsions prevent them from publicly supporting it, they have conveyed that they have no intention of obstructing its implementation. This tacit approval could prove crucial in ensuring the bill’s effective rollout, particularly given the complex administrative changes it proposes..Zero HourA political story of public importance.Wrongly accused of ‘Hamas support’: Indian student speaks after being forced to flee US.Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia University PhD scholar, was disenrolled and forced to leave the US due to her pro-Palestine views. She spoke to TNM about her ordeal amid the clampdown on free speech in US universities..PowermovesTop 5 political storiesBengaluru’s ‘black spots’: TNM visits the city’s deadliest roads for pedestriansKerala ASHA workers announce indefinite hunger strike from March 20Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan criticises Tamil Nadu for rejecting HindiStar Vijay holds back Neeya Naana episode on 3-language policy, DMK alleges BJP pressure Telangana Assembly passes Bills granting 42% reservations for Backward Classes