News

Supreme Court Halts Police Investigation at Isha Foundation, Transfers Case

SimpliCity News Team File Photo · 04 Oct 2024

Coimbatore: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Madras High Court's order permitting police investigation at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. The apex court also transferred the case related to Isha Foundation from the High Court to itself for further proceedings.

The case stems from a habeas corpus petition filed by retired Professor Kamaraj, who sought to recover his daughters from the Isha Yoga Center. The Madras High Court had previously ordered a comprehensive investigation into all criminal cases against the Isha Yoga Center, with a report to be submitted by October 4.

Following this order, six teams led by Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police K. Karthikeyan had been conducting investigations at the Isha Yoga Center for the past two days. However, Isha Foundation filed an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the police investigation.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Isha Foundation, argued before the Supreme Court that this was a matter of religious freedom and an urgent and serious case. He emphasized that Sadhguru is highly respected and has lakhs of followers.

The Supreme Court justices conducted an online inquiry with the two daughters of the retired professor who are at the Isha Center. They also raised questions about the POCSO case filed against a doctor at the ashram and the alleged connection between Isha and a tribal school where students reportedly faced sexual harassment.

In response, the advocate clarified that the accused doctor was not a resident but a daily visitor to the center. He also stated that there was no connection between Isha and the school where the alleged sexual harassment took place.

The justices noted that both daughters, during the inquiry, stated they were at the ashram voluntarily and felt free there.

Following these proceedings, the Supreme Court issued an interim stay on the police investigation at Isha Center and transferred the case from the High Court to itself. The state police have been instructed to submit a report on their investigation so far to the Supreme Court and to discontinue further investigation based on the High Court's order.

Isha Foundation Supreme Court police investigation Madras High Court Coimbatore religious freedom

Supreme Court Halts Police Investigation at Isha Foundation, Transfers Case

Related stories