A self-styled godman has gone "missing" after video footage of his alleged sleazy acts were aired on a leading Tamil TV channel in Chennai, which were dismissed by his ashram as "morphed images".
Nityananda Swami, who is quite popular attracting a large number of devotees with his lucid
style of interpreting philosophies of life and makes appearances on TV channels, was purportedly shown on the channel in a compromising position.
"He is missing," said Devaraj, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Ramanagaram district, under whose limits the ashram is located at Bidadi near Bangalore.
The Bangalore-based ashram manager Sevananda today filed a complaint with police, stating he had received calls from Chennai, threatening to expose the alleged sleazy activities of Swami, in his early thirties, hailing from Thiruvanamalai in Tamil Nadu.
In the complaint, Sevananada said the caller threatened to provide the "footage" to the media and had demanded money not to release it. Sevananada said the clippings showing Swami in poor light are "morphed".
The ashram has several branches across India and 13 abroad.
After the video clippings were aired, many people gathered before the ashram.
Meanwhile at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, said a committee would be formed to look into what action can be taken into the incident.
Endorsing the view that such incidents involving self-styled godmen are "on the rise" in the state, he said the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department "will see what action can be taken in such cases."