<p>The case filed by a local resident demanded action against him for “betraying and cheating” his devotees and acting in a manner that profoundly hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The petitioner, Selvamani, had moved the civil and criminal court in Sriperumbudur, last month in the wake of the expose by a Tamil TV channel. Subsequently, Nithyananda had to step down from the trust of the Nithyananda Dhyana Peetam in Bangalore .<br /><br />Despite the court having issued summons to appear before it in recent weeks, Nithyananda has been on the run and his whereabouts are yet to be firmly known. In this backdrop, the judge directed issuance of a non-bailable warrant to arrest the godman and produce him in the court on May 20, the sources said. <br /><br />A directive to this effect has been issued to the Ramnagar DSP in Karnataka as the cases against Nithyananda under various IPC sections, including cheating and alleged rape, have all been transferred by TN Police to the Karnataka Police. The Sriperumbudur court said Nithyananda has to be produced before it on May 20.</p>
<p>The case filed by a local resident demanded action against him for “betraying and cheating” his devotees and acting in a manner that profoundly hurt Hindu religious sentiments. The petitioner, Selvamani, had moved the civil and criminal court in Sriperumbudur, last month in the wake of the expose by a Tamil TV channel. Subsequently, Nithyananda had to step down from the trust of the Nithyananda Dhyana Peetam in Bangalore .<br /><br />Despite the court having issued summons to appear before it in recent weeks, Nithyananda has been on the run and his whereabouts are yet to be firmly known. In this backdrop, the judge directed issuance of a non-bailable warrant to arrest the godman and produce him in the court on May 20, the sources said. <br /><br />A directive to this effect has been issued to the Ramnagar DSP in Karnataka as the cases against Nithyananda under various IPC sections, including cheating and alleged rape, have all been transferred by TN Police to the Karnataka Police. The Sriperumbudur court said Nithyananda has to be produced before it on May 20.</p>