Bangalore: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the high court of Karnataka to proceed with the hearing of the case against Paramahamsa Nithyananda, though a special leave petition (SLP) was under its consideration.

A division bench comprising justices Harjith Singh Bedi and CK Prasad gave the go-ahead to the high court after hearing the arguments of the state's counsel Sanjay Hegde and Nithyananda's advocate KV Dhananjay.

The self-styled godman, Nithyananda, has been facing criminal charges, including rape.

Dhananjay countered the SLP saying that it was filed by the police to delay the outcome of the case. He also said that it was filed on frivolous grounds.

Criminal charges were slapped on Nithyananda after a television channel in March aired the visuals, purportedly of the godman in lewd acts with a Tamil actress.

Meanwhile, a disciple of Nithyananda, Nithya Sachidananda, was arrested by the CID for allegedly destroying evidence.

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Tags: bangalore high court, nithyananda, sex swami