New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that it has cancelled Nithyananda’s passport, and has also “sensitised” all its foreign missions and posts to keep track of his movements.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, declining to comment on Nithyananda’s proclaiming a “Hindu homeland Kailaasa”, said that when the ministry was informed about the cases against Nithyananda they cancelled his passport.
Kumar said the godman had applied for a fresh passport, “which was denied, and put on hold because of adverse police report”.
“We have sensitized our missions and posts, that he is wanted for several crimes in India, so that if he transits the country or is in that country we should be informed,” he said.
Kumar said that Nithyananda had a passport issued in 2008 with a 10-year validity. But it was cancelled before 2018. Nithyananda had applied for a fresh passport, but was denied police clearance.
Nithyananda had allegedly fled India without a passport to save himself from a rape case registered against him in Karnataka.
Nithyananda’s real name is Rajashekharan and he is a native of Tamil Nadu. He opened an ashram near Bengaluru in the early 2000s. His teachings were said to be based on those of Osho Rajneesh.