Madras high court allows Nithyananda's petition

The Madras high court today allowed self-styled godman Nithyananda to implead himself in a writ petition seeking an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into a complaint against him.

In his order, justice KBK Vasuki said Nithyananda was a necessary party for the effective disposal of the writ petition and hence his plea was being allowed.

In his petition, Nithyananda said the high court had ordered notice to him on the writ petition.

He said that on March 2, a private television channel telecast 'false' video footage allegedly showing him in a compromising position with film actress Ranjitha, one of his followers.

Nithyananda said he had not committed any offence punishable under the law. He said several persons had filed vague complaints against him to gain publicity. R Karthikeyan, the man who had filed the writ petition in the Madras high court, was one of them, he said.

The swami claimed that the writ petition made fictitious, frivolous, and motivated allegations. Moreover, the petitioner filed multiple cases against him to get an order from the high court without making him a party to the litigation. This, he said, clearly showed his mala fide intent.