NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCT 3
The Supreme Court on Thursday restrained the Tamil Nadu police from taking any further action against the Isha Foundation led by spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev based on Madras High Court’s directions. The Chief Justice-led bench also interacted with the monks, whose parents filed a habeas corpus petition at HC.
- Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev approached the SC against Madras HC order directing further inquiry on a habeas corpus petition by police
- The Supreme Court has transferred a habeas corpus petition from the high court involving a man who claims his two daughters are being held captive at Isha Foundation
- The apex court said the matter would be heard in the week commencing October 14.
The apex court transferred to itself a habeas corpus petition filed before the high court by a man, who had alleged that his two daughters were held captive inside the premises of the Isha Foundation.
Hearing the case, a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered, “Police shall not take any further action in pursuance of directions in paragraph 4 of the High Court’s order.” The HC had directed the Coimbatore district police to conduct an inquiry while hearing a petition by monks’ parents and file a status report.
The Madras High Court came down heavily on Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and his Isha Yoga foundation and ordered further probe by the police. As many as 150 police personnel conducted searches at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. The habeas corpus petition filed by S. Kamaraj, a retired professor and the father of two girls who are allegedly at the foundation ashram against their will. Kamaraj in his petition before the Madras High Court said that his two daughters – Geetha Kamaraj (42) and Latha Kamaraj (39), were brainwashed by Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation and were forced into monastic life.
The Supreme Court judges went into chambers to interact with the two women in private through video-conferencing about the facts of the case. After interacting with the monks, Chief Justice Chandrachud said the women informed the bench that they were staying voluntarily at the Ashram. The women also informed the judges that they are not facing any coercion in the Ashram.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Foundation, sought a stay of the high court order, and said around 150 police officials have entered the Foundation’s ashram and are probing every corner.
The bench, which interacted with the two women in chambers through video-conferencing, were told that police has left the ashram on Wednesday night.
The apex court said the matter would be heard in the week commencing October 14.
