Paramahamsa Nithyananda Swamy cannot commit rape: counsel

On Thursday, a medical document submitted in the high court certified that self-styled godman Paramahamsa Nithyananda Swamy could not have committed rape.

A medical doctor has certified that his ‘bodily features’ resemble those of a child between one and six years old. The state government had filed an appeal in the high court seeking cancellation of the conditional bail granted to Nithyananda Swamy on June 11, 2010.

Following an appeal, bail conditions were later relaxed.In its appeal, the state government said that the godman should be committed to judicial custody until the conclusion of the trial, as he was calling press conferences and participating in debates on television, making unwarranted comments on the criminal investigation.

The state government said that he had claimed to be the victim of sexual abuse, causing witnesses to fear making submissions against him.

Counsel for Nithyananda Swamy, CV Nagesh, argued that Nithyananda wanted to go on pilgrimage, but even after bail conditions were relaxed, he was not given his passport. Nagesh also presented an argument that was buttressed with medical documents in a sealed cover.

The documents attested that the godman’s body was like that of a child between one and six years old, and that he could not have forced anyone to have sex with him. Justice KN Keshavanarayan posted the case for orders on July 18.