Rape case: Warrants against Nityananda, aide quashed

Bengaluru: The high court on Wednesday quashed non-bailable warrants issued by Ramanagar court against self-styled godman

Nityananda

and his aide Shiva Vallabhaneni, also an accused in the alleged rape case.

Allowing their petitions, Justice PS Dinesh Kumar noted that the court order doesn’t cite any cogent reasons regarding consideration of their plea.

On September 6, 2018, the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Court in Ramanagar had issued warrants after rejecting their applications seeking exemption from personal appearance in the ongoing trial.

Nityananda had sought exemption on the ground that he was practising ‘chaturmasa’ on the bank of river Narmada and also suffered illness during the time. He also said his advocate would represent him and that he would not object to any witness referring him in his absence. Vallabhaneni claimed that his wife is suffering a serious illness.

Translator’s appointment quashed

The high court also set aside the trial court’s order appointing assistant lecturer Basavaraj to translate deposition of Lenin Karuppan, a witness and also one of the complainants, to Tamil to English or Kannada, based on oral request.

Nityananda had claimed that Basavaraj is a witness mentioned in the chargesheet, hence he could not have been appointed translator.

The judge observed that translator should be a neutral person not connected with the case and the trial court has to ascertain which language Lenin knows before appointing a person to translate his deposition.

Ranjitha’s plea dismissed

The court dismissed the petition filed by actor Ranjitha Menon who had approached the high court challenging the trial court’s order rejecting her plea seeking permission to assist the prosecution.

“Since she is not the victim as per her own statement, the trial court is not wrong in rejecting her application,” the judge noted.


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