BANGALORE: Taking serious note of the incidents that have been taking place at the Nityananda ashram in Bidadi, 30 km from Bangalore over the last few days, chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Monday intervened and ordered the arrest of self-styled godman Swami Nityananda , to oppose his bail in the court and to search the ashram and seal it.

The police have already launched a manhunt for Nityananda who has been absconding after the unsavoury scenes in the ashram where his devotees assaulted media persons for asking inconvenient questions to him. Gowda ordered the arrest of Nityananda after holding a meeting with home minister R Ashoka, law minister S Suresh Kumar and top police officials including DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau. In addition to the clash with the media, several female devotees had also filed complaints accusing the godman of rape and sexual abuse. A US-based woman has also lodged a complaint alleging that the godman had sexually abused her for five years.

Police conducted a search of his ashram premises moments after they issued a search warrant for his arrest, but could not trace him.

Gowda said he hasddirected regional commissioner Shambhu Dayal Meena to submit a report to the government on the incident and also asked the DC and the Superintendent of Police of Ramanagaram district to secure custody of the Nityananada’s ashram (Dhyanapeetham) to collect evidence about its activities and seal the ashram till the law and order is restored.

The government will soon hold discussions with the law department to seek cancellation of bail of Nityananda, who was recently granted bail by the Karnataka high court in connection with a case of rape and criminal intimidation. Nithyananda is facing criminal charges, including rape, on complaints from some former disciples last year. He was arrested and later released on bail.

On June 8, police had lodged criminal cases against him and his followers for allegedly assaulting a media person during a press conference at his ashram. The FIRs were filed on complaints from a regional TV channel reporter and activists of Nava Nirmana Sene in connection with an altercation at the ashram the previous night.On a counter complaint by two followers of Nithyananda, the police also registered two FIRs against the reporter and Sene activists for alleged outrage of modesty, physical assault and threat to life.