A couple on Monday, November 18, petitioned the Gujarat High Court to get back their two daughters who have been allegedly confined at self-styled godman, Swami Nithyananda’s ashram.
Janardana Sharma and his wife in their petition said that in 2013 they had admitted their four daughters in the age group of 7-15 to Nithyananda Dhyanpeetham, an educational institution run by Swami Nithyananda in Bengaluru.
The parents later got to know that their daughters were shifted to Yogini Sarvagyapeetham, another branch of the institution, situated in the premises of Delhi Public School in Ahmedabad. But when the parents tried to meet their daughter, the institute officials allegedly refused.
Later, with the help of police, they managed to bring back their two younger daughters. But according to the petition, Lopamudra Janardhana Sharma (21) and Nandhita (18), the two elder daughters, refuse to accompany them.
The petition alleged that their two younger daughters were abducted and confined for over two weeks. They were also deprived of sleep. An FIR has been filed by the parents against the authorities in this regard.
Besides seeking custody of their daughters, the Sharmas in their plea have asked for an investigation into other minors kept at the institute. Charges were framed against Nithyananda by a Karnataka court in June last year in connection to a rape case.
Godmen Thrive In India
In the past couple of years, several self-styled godmen’s criminal wrongdoings have come to fore with crimes such as financial fraud, rape and even murder.
Godmen and allegations of criminal offenses against them have been prevalent in India. Such incidents have become rampant over the years. These self-appointed leaders have been grabbing national attention on a regular basis for committing crimes from financial fraud to rape and even outright murder.
Godmen like Sant Rampal and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh are prominent examples of such criminals who have successfully attracted a kind of blind, raging faith of hundreds, which continue to baffle us.
Rampal was sentenced to life in jail in murder cases. His ashram in Hisar had turned into a war zone as police attempted to arrest him – there was a pitched battle between hundreds of policemen and Rampal’s followers. Hundreds of people followed and believed in him, despite him being proven guilty.
After Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted by a special CBI court of Panchkula in a 15-year-old rape and sexual exploitation case, several cities saw public properties including buses and railway stations being burnt by his followers. In fact, he claims to have over six crore followers across northern states of India and abroad.
The Logical Indian Take
Even though the self-styled gurus are convicted of for their crimes in the court of law, they continue to maintain their innocence, their followers refute the charges as conspiracy and continue to believe them even after they are imprisoned.
With evil practices and superstitious activities becoming a flourishing industry in the country, everything from regulating funding to legal action against Godmen has become a dire necessity now. There is a need for comprehensive legislation and stricter laws to check the growing clout of godmen and save people from becoming victims.
Mankind’s propensity to believe in a higher power often leads them to attribute reason to things which practically have none. Millions of Indians are in awe of these men, who have been preying on their gullibility.
Several times, even police intervention is not enough to nab godmen. There unbelievably massive followers are always there to shield them despite compelling evidence pointing at their misdeeds. Just like politicians and other people in power, it is easy for them to evade legal proceedings.
Also Read: Haryana Police Recommends Rape & Murder Convict Ram Rahim For Parole Citing ‘Good Behaviour’
