Madurai bench of Madras HC warns of criminal action against Nithyananda

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras High court warned on Tuesday that it would recommend criminal action against godman Nithyananda, founder of the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, Thiruvannamalai, if he fails to withdraw his petition claiming to be the 293rd pontiff of the ‘Madurai Aadheenam Mutt’ here.

Justice R. Mahadevan passed an interim order on October 11, restraining Nithyananda or anyone under him, from interfering or entering the ‘Madurai Aadheenam Mutt’. The judge also observed that Nithyananda was illegally attempting to interfere with the administration of the Mutt.

The court had passed this order on a writ petition filed by M Jagathalapradapan from Madurai who sought the court to direct the chief secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government and the commissioner of HR & CE department, Chennai, and Madurai collector to take suitable action against Nithyananda and protect the historic Mutt, which was started by Thirugnana Sambander some 1,500 years ago.

Jagathalapradapan, founder trustee of the ‘Madurai Meenakshi Children Trust’ said that he was a follower of 292nd pontiff Arunagirinatha Sri Gnanasambandan Desika Prama Achariya Swamigal of the Madurai Mutt.

Nithyananda, in his counter, claimed that he was appointed as the 293rd pontiff of the ‘Madurai Aadheenam’ on April 27, 2012, and once the pontiff is appointed he continues in the post for his entire life term.

When the case came up for hearing today, Justice Mahadevan questioned his logic stating, “How can Nithyananda claim to be the 293rd pontiff when the 292nd pontiff Arunagirinatha is still alive?” As he had filed a false affidavit, the Judge directed him to withdraw it.

After recording the submissions, the court posted the next hearing of the case to January, 3, 2018.