Nithyananda booked, two disciples held for ‘kidnapping’ kids

AHMEDABAD: An FIR was registered against self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda on charges of alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram in Ahmedabad, police said on Wednesday.

Police also arrested Sadhvi Pranpriyananda and Priyatatva Riddhi Kiran, both women disciples of the controversial godman, on charges of allegedly kidnapping at least four children, keeping them in illegal confinement in a flat and using them as child labourers to promote activities of the ashram to collect donations.

Nithyananda was booked on similar charges after police recorded statements of the four children who were rescued from a flat, a police officer said.

Sadhvi Pran Priyananda and Priyatatva Riddhi Kiran are responsible for running the ashram, “Yogini Sarvagyapeetham”.

Whatever decisions were taken started from the hostel committees. A draft was put on JNU website for feedback, which was presented in the inter-hall administration committee meeting on October 28. That was the first time for a debate and discussion on the hostel manual where all hostel presidents were there, the senior wardens, the five provosts, associate deans, and deans. They were supposed to prepare a final draft. But when the meeting was in progress, some students barged in and disrupted the meeting. When the meeting was held at a different venue, some hostel presidents attended. The matter was discussed and they unanimously approved the hostel manual which included the proposed charges. The executive council was scheduled to be held on November 13 - during these two weeks also students could have given suggestions. But instead they started indulging in gheraoing, and when the provosts went for discussion, they were only given a choice – reject the manual or resign.

If you look at the numbers, it appears there is a sudden increase. But the base value, 10 rupees, that was fixed 40 years ago, that was too low. If it was 10 paise then and you make it one rupee now, people would have said it’s a huge jump. Times have changed, and if you want to provide better facilities for students, they have to pay for the services. That is why we increased it nominally from ₹10 to ₹300 for a seat for a dou

That is why we have given 50% concession for economically weaker sections. As a varsity, we need to provide them opportunity to come here and study.

Any violent act or unlawful acts are unwelcome in a varsity like JNU. But if people break doors, deface walls… when anybody commits an act which violates the law, the law will take its own course.

Whatever information they need, we are providing it. Our deans went and met them.

Our deans are already reaching out to students in their respective schools. We hope the students will understand the rationale behind hostel charges. I also sent a video message. Consultation with students is a continuous process, it is happening.

SADHVI PRAN PRIYANANDA AND PRIYATATVA RIDDHI KIRAN RUN THE ASHRAM, ‘YOGINI SARVAGYAPEETHAM’

If you look at the numbers, it appears there is a sudden increase. But the base value, 10 rupees, that was fixed 40 years ago, that was too low. If it was 10 paise then and you make it one rupee now, people would have said it’s a huge jump...