Nithyananda did not use force: CID to HC

BANGALORE: The state CID told the High Court on Thursday that the footage in the CD in which Swami Nithyananda is shown in a compromising position with a Tamil actress ‘does not appear to be an act done forcibly’.

KN Yogappa, investigating officer and SP of CID stated that in the video, the identity of the girl was not revealed and that it was difficult to conclude that the Swami had used force.

The government had earlier submitted that it has enough material to prosecute Nithyananda for the offences of rape, unnatural sex, cheating, showing disrespect to religious sentiments and abetment to suicide under the IPC.

The court had asked the government whether the investigating agency had recorded the statement of the victim in the case of alleged rape, to which the government had said that it had yet to do so.

However, the government strongly contended that it had sufficient material against Nithyananda.

In the cheating case against the godman, the police have recorded the statement of T Narayana, a former devotee of the Swami.

According to his statement, Nithyananda had cheated him of Rs 50,000. The hearing of the case continues on April 21.

Nithyananda’s counsel has taken time to submit a counter.

Nithyananda’s counsel asked the court to restrict the media from writing about the court proceedings in the case. But the court turned down his request.