Yoga guru further entangled by sex case
UNITED STATES: The founder of Bikram yoga is facing arrest for failing to pay more than US$6 million (NZ$8.55m) to his former lawyer in a sexual harassment case.
Bikram Choudhury, 70, is famed for a technique that counts Madonna, Andy Murray and Gwyneth Paltrow among its followers.
But a California judge issued an arrest warrant shortly after Choudhury was ordered to hand over the proceeds from his global fitness empire.
He has been told to pay Minakshi ‘‘Micki’’ Jafa-Bodden, his former lawyer, who claimed Choudhury fired her when she refused to help him cover up a rape allegation.
Jafa-Bodden worked as head of legal and international affairs at Choudhury’s Los Angeles yoga school for two years until 2013, reportedly earning a six-figure salary.
She claimed in the lawsuit that Choudhury sexually harassed and inappropriately touched her, and tried to get her to stay with him in a hotel suite.
In making his ruling this week, LA county superior court judge Edward Moreton set bail at $8m. No lawyers appeared for Choudhury, who claimed last year he was nearly bankrupt.
Carla Minnard, the lawyer representing Jafa-Bodden, said her firm had tracked luxury vehicles and other possessions that Choudhury moved out of state.
She said they have court orders in Nevada and Florida preventing him from moving stored items from warehouses.
Choudhury faces sexual assault lawsuits filed by six other women, five of whom accuse him of rape. Some are his former yoga students. – Telegraph Group