Madras HC seeks details of criminal cases against Isha Foundation as aggrieved father alleges his daughters held captive

The Madras High Court (HC) has sought details of criminal cases registered against the Isha Foundation, after a retired professor approached the court claiming that his two daughters were being held captive and brainwashed in the Foundation run by Jaggi Vasudev, popularly known as Sadhguru.

The bench of Justice — SM Subramaniam and Justice V Sivagnanam — on Sep 30 called for details even after the alleged detainees appeared before the court and submitted that they were willingly residing at the foundation out of their own free will and that they were not detained.

Noting that some deliberation was required in the matter to unravel 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 how the detenus have spoken before us, we could form an opinion that some more deliberations are required to understand the truth behind the allegations.” the bench said.

“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 them before us for further consideration,” it added.

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.

Kamaraj alleged that his daughters have undertaken a path of Sanyasin (a person who has renounced material desires and prejudices and has dedicated their life to spiritual pursuits) and changed their names as they are brainwashed and are under immense influence of the teachings at the center.

He also said 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 center and meet the detenus to record their statements and submit a detailed report expressing his opinion.

“The observation of the district judge spoke volumes of the apprehensions of the petitioner in unequivocal words. The judge had noted that since inmates were in the center for over 5 years, the influence of the preaching by the center could not be ruled out,” he told the court.

Kamaraj further submitted that when he tried to meet his daughters, h following court directions, they were allowed to meet him only in a selected place in the intimidating presence of men from the Yoga Centre.

He told the court that after some time, his elder daughter called him and informed him that her younger sister was fasting unto death till he gave up litigations against the Yoga Center. He added that on being asked, the daughter also informed him that she had made the call under the compulsion of the Yoga Center.

The petitioner argued that his daughters' lives were in danger at the Yoga center as the management had held them captive at ransom under their influence and illegal custody.

Kamaraj pleaded that the police should visit all the inmates 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.

The bench was amazed why a man like Jaggi Vasudev — head of Isha Foundation — who had himself married off his only daughter, had encouraged young women to renounce the worldly life and live the life of hermitess.