Bangalore:
Insiders say supporters of Nithyananda, who is confident of securing bail in court today, tipped off CID about his Himachal Pradesh hideout. (
Read: 'Sex Swami' arrested in Himachal Pradesh)
While police bask in media glare following the arrest of sex swami Nithyananda, insiders in the godman's camp claim the disgraced guru engineered the arrest on advice of his trusted followers.
"Nithyananda was not hiding from the police or the law, it was the public he feared. He has always been reasonably certain that the charges leveled against him are unlikely to stick in court. Now that the public anger has subsided somewhat, the swami tipped the cops. He expects to be granted bail in court," explained a source close to the Swami.
Nithyananda had been in hiding for a month since a video of his alleged romp with Tamil actress Ranjitha was broadcast by TV channels across the country.
While the district magistrate on Wednesday quashed Nithyananda's plea for anticipatory bail, the high court will hear a petition that seeks dropping of charges leveled against him tomorrow.
Yesterday, Ramnagar Magistrate court quashed Nithyananda's anticipatory bail plea. It is interesting to note that the swami's arrest comes at the heels of the high court's decision to admit a plea filed on his behalf that seeks dropping of charges levied against him.
Sources say that once the high court's admitted his plea, the swami became confident that it would not be difficult for him to secure bail. This is when his supporters are said to have tipped the cops about his Himachal Pradesh hideaway.
Incidentally, a court in Tamil Nadu issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the self style god man in response to a complaint by K Selvamani, an RSS activist under Section 295 (a) of the Indian Penal Code.
Swami Nithyananda had been in hiding for a month since a video of his alleged romp with Tamil actress Ranjitha became public.
In response, Sriperumbudur District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate S Gunasekhar issued directions to Rama Nagar police station in Karnataka, where the god man's Bidadi ashram is located, to execute the warrant irrespective of whether or not he was available at his address.
The swami is believed to have chosen arrest over surrender so he is in the cops' good books. "The godman hopes keeping the police in good humour because he hopes they will cooperate with him at a later stage," explained the source.
Yogappa, superintendent of police, CID (special enquiry), who is heading the investigative team in the case rubbished claims that the swami's associates tipped them.
"Why do you want to discount our efforts? We traced the swami's phone calls so we could locate his hideout.
Once we were sure, a team of two deputy superintendents of police flew to Himachal Pradesh and arrested him."
HS Chandramouli, Nityananda's counsel, refused to comment on whether the swami's arrest was stage-managed.
"Now that he has been arrested, we are left with no option but to file a bail application. I am certain he will be granted bail."
Nithyananda is expected to be produced in court in Bangalore today.