Disciples spring to godman's defence

BANGALORE: Disciples of controversial godman Swami Nityananda challenged his former driver and complainant in the CID investigation to undergo narcoanalysis to reveal the truth.
His disciples - Nitya Bhakthananda, Nitya Satchidananda, Nitya Priyananda and others -told mediapersons here on Saturday: “We are also the accused in that case and ready to subject ourselves to narcoanalysis.We will challenge the complainant Lenin Kuruppan and so-called witnesses to undergo a similar test. Let them use sodium pentathol and the best doctor available in Bangalore or India. We will pay the expenses. Let the truth come out. It is only those who want to hide something who are scared of this,” they said.
Bhakthananda alleged that charges of rape against Nityananda were based on the complaint of a “mysterious victim” and well after the high court recorded the submission of the state government that there was no case under that charge.
Pooh-poohing Lenin’s claim that there is a threat to his life, Bhakthananda said if any threat exists, it’s from the CID. “The CID doesn’t have the necessary equipment to protect him. They couldn’t keep the tapes safely and they got leaked. Let a central agency take Lenin into preventive custody,” he said.
Both of them also denied that Nityannda had floated a hedge fund. “The company belongs to an individual who is a devotee of the Swami,” they said.
Sachidananda said nearly 400 applications have been recieved from persons who want to become ashramites. Also, 72 ashramites are doing a law course and in the next three years, they’d be qualified.
Maa Achalanada, a disciple, said the police registered the case and started the investigation on March 4, whereas the same police took two months to register a case against Lenin based on their complaint.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com