Nithyananda Ashram: HC dismisses habeas corpus filed by women's father

Ahmedabad: In a case of a father filing a habeas corpus petition to get his two daughters released from the Nithyananda Ashram in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court ruled that the women were adults and the court did not see the two women were under duress or influence after it interacted with them.

The court dismissed the four-year-old petition, saying that the two women were happily following their spiritual path, The Indian Express reported.

The father, Janardhana Sharma, moved the high court in November 2019, alleging that the Ahmedabad ashram of self-styled godman Nithyananda has been keeping his daughters Lopamudra alias Tatvapriya and Nandhitha alias Nityanandita in illegal confinement. He added that after Nithyanantha fled India, the Ashram abducted his daughters out of the country and were located in Jamaica.

The two women had appeared before the high court via video conference before Justices A Y Kogje and R M Sareen on January 10.

The court order read, “Not only that, but they had also indicated that they are out of their free will residing at (Jamaica) and have decided to continue to reside there and follow the spiritual path which they have consciously decided to follow. They have also indicated the spiritual sessions which they undertake, which are followed by many people all across the world. The court finding the same to be reliable is unable to conclude that the corpora are in any manner under any duress or any influence… Having interviewed the corpora, the court is satisfied that both are adults, mature enough to understand their well-being, and apparently happy at the place where they are presently residing and on their spiritual path,” TIE quoted.