A day after the Tamil Nadu government moved a local court to take over the administration of the famed Madurai Adheenam and its vast properties, its pontiff Arunagirinatha Desigar declared on Friday that controversial godman Nithyananda whom he had anointed as his successor on April 27, stood expelled with immediate effect.
Arunagirinatha, the 292nd pontiff of the Saiviite Mutt, however, was unable to give convincing replies as to why Nithyananda, whose appointment as junior pontiff had caused widespread resentment among Saiviites due to his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, was shown the door.
“I decided to strip him of the post due to unavoidable reasons. I have not been able to communicate the decision to Nithyananda since he did not take my phone calls. In any case, Nithyananda was contemplating resigning on Thursday evening itself,” he claimed. To a question, the pontiff said he was never threatened by Nithyananda in the past, as alleged by critics. “He was fond of me. I hope he will not threaten me in the future too,” Arunagirinatha quipped.
Disciples of Nithyananda had already left the mutt on their own volition.
However, in a parallel development, the pontiff through his lawyer submitted a petition to the Vilakkothoon police seeking protection. “In his petition, he apprehended threat to his life and property on account of removing Nithyananda from the post,” Deputy Commissioner of Police R Thirunavukkarasu told Express.
Incidentally, on Thursday the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissioner filed a suit seeking the removal of Arungirinatha from the trusteeship of the mutt and also to declare an affidavit filed by him anointing Nithyananda as null and void.