The noose appears to be tightening around self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda and Delhi Public School after a father of four children from Tamil Nadu filed a habeas corpus writ in the Gujarat High Court, seeking the release of two of his daughters from the godman's ashram.
The ashram of Nithyananda is located in the campus of Delhi Public School, East, in Ahmedabad.
While the police had arrested two disciples of Nithyananda—Sadhvi Pranpriyananda and Priyatatva Riddhi Kiran—on Wednesday, principal of the school Hitesh Puri was arrested on Thursday.
Puri was arrested on the grounds that the school did not inform the police while leasing out its premises for the ashram. According to police sources, Puri was the signatory authority in the lease agreement signed on behalf of the Calorx Foundation that runs several DPS schools.
The CBSE has written to the Gujarat government to inquire as to how DPS could lease out its premises to the ashram. After Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja said on Wednesday that the guilty would be brought to book, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama too echoed similar views on Thursday.
Nithyananda has been named in the FIR registered against the ashram. Among various allegations against the godman include an allegation that he pushes children into child labour.
Hearing in the habeas corpus writ will be held on November 26. Deputy SP K.T. Kamaria, who took the two arrested disciples to the ashram on Thursday, said they have formed different teams to probe the allegations and give details to the Gujarat High Court.
The two daughters of Tamil Nadu man said on a video call that they are abroad and do not wish to return to their parents. Their two minor siblings have been united with the parents.
The police, during the search operations on Thursday, recovered laptops, mobiles and tablets from the ashram. Kamaria said the gadgets have been sent to the FSL and they will look for evidence of various allegations levelled against the ashram and the godman.
Manager of Pushpak City, who gave a building to the ashram, has also been arrested.
The secretary of CBSE has written to directorate of schools, state education department of Gujarat to inquire into the matter. It has been asked to conduct the probe expeditiously and convey the outcome of the report and status of no objection certificate issued by the state department to the school seeking CBSE affiliation.
DPS had apparently not sought permission of the CBSE while leasing out land for the ashram.
Even as the investigations are on in the case, nobody is sure about the whereabouts of Nithyananda. There are speculations that he could have fled India soon after allegations were made against him in Karnataka long time back.
