• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Tamil Nadu Police on Friday told the Supreme Court that a few people were reported to have gone missing from the Isha Yoga Centre and as many as six cases of missing persons were filed at the Alandurai police station. In its counterpetition linked to the ongoing probe into spiritual leader Sadhguru's Isha Foundation, the police said that five out of six missing people were traced while one is yet to be found.

K Karthikeyan, Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore district, filed a 23-page report which shared details about "persons who came there for courses and were found missing" among other findings. The police report also mentioned that seven cases of deaths were also registered at the Alandurai police station under CrPC section 174 (suspicious death). Of these, five cases were closed as the deaths were not found to be suspicious. Two cases were still being probed as the forensic reports were awaited, police said.

Reacting to police report on missing persons, the Isha Foundation said, "The Foundation proactively approached the police to lodge a missing person complaint after informing the family about the situation. We remain hopeful for the safe return of this individual and are committed to support efforts to find the missing person."

ALSO READ: India vs New Zealand: Jasprit Bumrah Overtakes Ravichandran Ashwin To Become Highest Wicket-Taker In Tests In 2024

The police further said that the Isha Foundation has a crematorium in the name of 'Kalabairavar Thagana Mandapam' within its premises, and even the hospitals of the foundation are not functioning as per the law. The police said the hospital was issuing medicines that had crossed expiry dates. The foundation has rejected the report on a crematorium functioning inside Isha ashram.

Earlier, the apex court had questioned the functioning of the Tamil Nadu Police as they entered into the Isha Foundation's premise based on some information regarding wrongdoings. A case was filed by the father of two monk sisters, claiming that they were detained in the premise and were not allowed to meet their parents. However, the police have assured, based on their statements, that the monks are living voluntarily and have been in regular touch with the parents. The police detailed that 70 calls were made between the mother and Maa Mathi. 

ALSO READ: Bahraich Violence: Victim Ram Gopal's Wife Roli's Viral Video Sparks Controversy Over Police Encounter – Here's What She Said

The monks have informed that "they are living happily in Isha Yoga Centre in the path of monkhood, and they requested their parents not to tell any lies about them and the institution in public and not to disturb their path."

Earlier, a case of POCSO was registered on September 3 against one of the employees of the Isha Foundation, Dr Saravanamoorthy, for inappropriately touching young school girls during periodical checkups. Responding to the POCSO case, the foundation said the doctor was an employee of Isha Outreach and the incident took place outside the ashram. "The case is under investigation, and we have extended our full support to the authorities," the statement read.