Nityananda Sex scandal: The self-made godman’s associate arrested in Bangalore

Bangalore: An associate of self-styled godman Nityananda, facing criminal charges including rape, was arrested here today for alleged destruction of evidence.

In pic: Swami Nityananda who was caught in a sex scandal earlier this year.

“Nitya Sachidananda has been arrested on charges of destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy,” CID officials said without elaborating further.

They said he would be produced in a court tomorrow. According to police, Sachidananda — an active member of Nityananda’s ashram in Bidadi — had been arrested on the charge of destroying the agreements signed by the swami’s followers.

Sachidananda, in his 50s, was one of the spokespersons of Nityananda’s ashram and had defended the godman when he was caught in a sex scandal early this year.

Sachidananda, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, met Nityananda in Chicago in 2003 when the self-proclaimed swamiji established his order at the age of 26. He was instantly taken in by what he described as Nityananda’s “quantum spirituality”.

Nityananda was arrested in April last after a television channel aired purported video footage showing him in a compromising position with a Tamil Actress.

The clipping was followed by a spate of allegations of the swami having lured innocent women to the ashram and taking advantage of them. The disciples were also allegedly made to enter into a pact, which said they could be subjected to exposure to nudity.

Police had registered cases of cheating and rape against Nityananda, who is out on bail. His petition seeking quashing of the two cases in pending in Karnataka High Court.