A day after Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda announced action against godman Nithyananda, a team of officials comprising Police and Revenue Departments in two teams began searching the entire ashram on Tuesday evening.
During the search that started at 5.30 pm and ended at 9.45 pm, officials sealed eight rooms. “We have also checked the welcome centre and the computer room. We have seized a hard drive and electronic items. There were around 60 women devotees inside. There are more rooms and we will take 2-3 days to complete the search,” said District Commissioner of Ramanagaram, Sriram Reddy. “No sensitive items have been found,” said an official.
Meanwhile, Nithyananda moved the High Court seeking quashing of an FIR registered in connection with last week’s violence near his ashram. Police have dispatched two special teams to Madurai following information that Nithyananda is holed up in the Madurai Adheenam, to which he was anointed recently by the present seer.
Officials said the search would last 4-5 days and will be completely recorded.
Besides Reddy, SP Anupam Agarwal, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department, accompanied by 30 police officers and officials from the Revenue Department entered the 42-acre ashram. Sources revealed that the ashram has 50 flats, one building under construction and housed almost 130 disciples, including school students.
Police have launched a search for the swamy.
“A case of assault and threat to life and another of abetment has been registered against Nithyananda. According to these cases, the police have the right to search the accused,” said a police officer.