BENGALURU: The High Court on Thursday set aside the order of a trial court in Ramanagara rejecting the application of self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda and others seeking directives to summon the statements of 32 witnesses, including that of actress Ranjitha, recorded by the investigation agency.
This comes as a big relief for Nithyananda, who is accused in a sexual assault case. A trial court rejected his application on January 28. One Nitya Bhaktananda, the second accused in the case, challenged the trial court’s order by filing a criminal petition in the High Court.
Allowing the petition, Justice H Billappa ordered the trial court to secure the statements of 32 witnesses recorded before June 11, 2010, by the CID.
Justice Billappa also ordered the trial court to summon the statements of Ranjitha and Nithyananda, his medical records and emails of Arathi Rao, who was allegedly sexually exploited by the self-styled godman and others.
Bhaktananda’s counsel argued that the statements of the witnesses recorded by the CID were not submitted with the chargesheet after the public prosecutor said the statements do not support the prosecution.
Nithyananda and Bhaktananda, who have filed an application to discharge them from the charges, have contended that the trial court erroneously rejected the application.