Nithyananda, close aide brought to Bangalore from Himachal Pradesh

Controversial self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda, allegedly involved in a sex scandal, was brought to Bangalore today from Himachal Pradesh where he was arrested along with his four associates.

Nithyananda and his close aide Nitya Bhaktananda alias Seelam Reddy were flown in to Bangalore this evening amid tight security and were whisked away to Ramanagaram Sessions court, where they are likely to be produced, police told PTI.

Over a month after he was reported absconding after a purported video footage of him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress was aired on local TV channels, Nithyananda was arrested yesterday along with four others from the house of a Delhi-based businessman at Solan in Himachal Pradesh.

The arrests were made by a joint team of Karnataka Crime Investigation Department and Himachal Pradesh Police.

The 32-year-old 'godman' and Reddy were produced before a local court in Solan yesterday and body warrant secured last night.

Both Nithyananda and his aide are wanted in connection with two cases, registered at Bidadi police station near Bangalore, where his ashram is located.

The Tamil Nadu police had registered various cases under IPC against Nithyananda, including that of rape.

The cases were later transferred to the Karnataka police.

Soon after his arrest, Nithyananda's anticipatory bail application which was pending before the Ramanagaram Sessions Court was dismissed.

A criminal petition filed by Nithyananda, praying for quashing of criminal cases against him in Karnataka high court, is coming up for hearing tomorrow.