Documents seized during CID raid at Swami Nithyananda ashram

Some documents and articles have been seized from the ashram of self-styled godman Swami Nityananda, embroiled in an alleged sex scandal, police said.

CID, probing cases filed against Nityananda, seized the documents pertaining to the ashram, computers and its hardware and articles on April 6 during a raid on his ashram at Bidadi, about 35km from Bangalore, police sources told PTI.

All these documents and articles are being thoroughly examined, they said.

According to the sources, 40 ashramites, including Nityananda's brother Nityeshwara, have been questioned but without much headway.

Police were, however, hopeful that something is likely to emerge from the seizures.

They said Nityananda's whereabouts are "still not known and all efforts are being made to trace him".

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court adjourned to April 15 hearing of Nityananda's criminal petition praying for quashing of criminal cases, including rape against him.

Petitioner's counsel HS Chandramouli submitted there was no clear averment about the allegations under various sections of the IPC and pressed for quashing the cases against him.

Nityananda's anticipatory bail application has been posted to hearing tomorrow by the Ramanagaram sessions' court.

The swami is entangled in a controversy ever since a video footage purportedly showing him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress was aired recently on local TV channels.