Interpol on Wednesday issued a blue notice against controversial godman Swami Nithyananda, following a request from the Gujarat Police, which is probing him on charges of rape and abduction.
A blue notice requires Interpol member states to "collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime". It ranks below the red notice, which requires member states to arrest wanted persons. Media reports claim the Gujarat Police is mulling requesting a red notice from Interpol for Nithyananda.
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Nithyananda is believed to have fled India late last year. In December, the government of Ecuador denied he was present in the country and said it had rejected a request for asylum. In December, the Indian government cancelled Nithyananda's passport. The ministry of external affairs informed Indian missions to attempt to locate Nithyananda.
Despite the search for him, Nithyananda has continued to address sermons, videos of which are still uploaded on social media and circulated to followers.
