Actress Ranjitha lodges criminal complaint against Kanchi Mutt seer Jayendra Saraswathi

CHENNAI: Tamil actress Ranjitha, who was in the news for her proximity with and devotion to self-styled godman Nithyananda, today lodged a criminal defamation complaint against Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Mutt.
Ranjitha, who could not complete the defamation proceedings formalities on Friday because of her late arrival in court,was well on time on Monday to present her complaint to the additional chief metropolitan magistrate V P Ravindran.
The judge has posted the matter to May 16, when Ranjitha must come again to record her sworn statement. Once that is over, summons will be issued to the persons named by Ranjitha in her complaint.
Ranjitha has sought to initiate defamation proceedings against the pontiff for his reported statements against her. She said she was a strong believer and that she used to attend several religious conferences and discourses. She said she became a disciple of Nithyananda after listening to his discourses in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
According to her, Jayendra Saraswathi, in an interview last week, cast aspersions on her relationship with Nithyananda and said she was seen with the godman always. Denying the allegations, Ranjitha said they were made intentionally by the Kanchi seer to defame her. She said she had suffered immense agony and stress due to the ‘malicious statement'.