On Aggrieved Father's Plea, Madras High Court Seeks Details Of Criminal Cases Registered Against Isha Foundation

The bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice V Sivagnanam called for details even after the alleged detainees appeared before the court and submitted that they were residing at the foundation of their own volition and that they were not detained.

Noting that some deliberation was required in the matter to unearth the truth, the court asked the petitioner and the Additional Advocate General to submit the details of the cases registered against the institution.

“In view of the serious nature of the allegations raised against the institution and the way and the manner in which the detenues have spoken before us, we could form an opinion that some more delebrations are required to understand the truth behind the allegations. Therefore, the petitioner shall produce the details of criminal cases registered against the institution and the learned Additional Public Prosecutor also shall collect all those case details and place before us for further consideration,” the court said.

The petitioner, S Kamaraj, a retired professor had approached the court by way of a habeas corpus petition claiming that his two daughters – Geetha Kamaraj alias Maa Mathi and Latha Kamaraj alias Maa Maayu, aged 42 and 39 respectively were held in captivity inside the institution. He alleged that his daughters, who were influenced by the teachings at the centre were brainwashed and have undertaken a path of Sanyasin and changed their names. He also pointed out that the daughters were now refusing to even meet the parents.

Kamaraj submitted that when he had filed a habeas corpus petition earlier in 2016, the court had directed the Principal District Judge to visit the yoga centre and meet the detenues to record their statements and submit a detailed report expressing his opinion. Kamaraj submitted that the observation of the District Judge spoke volumes of the apprehensions of the petitioner in unequivocal words. He informed the court that the Judge had noted that since inmates were in the centre for more than 5 years, the influence of the preaching by the Centre could not be ruled out.

Kamaraj further submitted that when he tried to meet his daughters, through court directions, the daughters were allowed to meet him only in a selected place in the intimidating presence of men from the Yoga Centre. He also submitted that after some time, his elder daughter called him and informed him that his younger daughter was fasting unto death till he gave up litigations against the Yoga Centre. He added that on being asked, the daughter also informed him that she had made the call on being asked by the Yoga Centre.

Kamaraj thus argued that his daughters' lives were in danger at the Yoga Centre as the management was holding them at ransom under their influence and illegal custody. Kamaraj suggested that the jurisdictional police should visit all the inmates' enclosures at least once a week or once in two weeks to ensure the safety of inmates and to provide them the opportunity to contact the outside world in case they were under any threat.

When the matter was taken up on Monday, the bench wondered why a man like Jaggi Vasudev, who had himself married off his only daughter, had encouraged young women to renounce the worldly life and live the life of hermitess.

Case Title: S Kamaraj v State of Tamil Nadu and Others

Case No: HCP 2487 of 2024