The Karnataka state police may have received the case files pertaining to controversial godman Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda, but they still have another hurdle to cross. The language hurdle, to be specific.
According to sources in the Karnataka police, their Tamil Nadu counterparts were supposed to send a translated version of the files. However, that was not to be, and the Karnataka police are currently in the process of translating the files from Tamil to Kannada, so they can launch an investigation into the case.
Stating that the office of the Karnataka director general of police received the files on Wednesday, additional director general of police (law and order) AR Infant said that the case files were huge in volume and required a complete translation. “Everything in them – including the complaint, FIRs, documents and case diaries – are in Tamil, and we need to get them translated. Hence, the case files have been given to the translation authority of the Government of Karnataka. We will also have to re-register the case at the Bidadi police station,” he said.
There was also a possibility of the case getting transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the officer said, adding, “Since it is a sensational case that has inter-state ramifications, it will require special investigation. The procedure will take a couple of days.”
Meanwhile, the route ahead looks hazy. Ramanagaram deputy superintendent of police Devaraju said, “We don’t know if the case will be handed over to the Bidadi police or the CID. We are still waiting for a directive in this regard. A decision on the godman’s arrest will be taken only after that issue is taken into account.”
On the other hand, Ramanagaram superintendent of police SB Bisenahalli said that though they also received a copy of the case files, they could not go through it because nobody at the station understood Tamil. Soon after a sex tape showing Swami Nithyananda indulging in ‘objectionable acts’ with a Tamil actress was aired on Sun TV on March 2, a series of allegations were levelled against him.
The Chennai police registered cases under sections 295(a) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 506 (1) (criminal intimidation), and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code against the swami.
In his last statement to the media, Nithyananada – who was at Haridwar to attend the Kumbh Mela – had said that he was going on a maun wrath (oath of silence), and would speak only after returning to his ashram in April.
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