Art of Living Foundation head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a statement has said that Bangalore's disgraced self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda violated rules of tantra.

A Foundation statement quoted Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as saying that Swami Nityananda, now in custody, "has violated UNAIDS guidelines as well as the rules of tantra."

"Only a house holder is entitled for tantric sex. Claiming to be a monk and using so many people for one's pleasure is unpardonable," Ravi Shankar said.

"He should have had one partner and announced himself as a tantric guru. It has caused damage to the faith of people in the institution and traumatised many."

Several criminal cases relating to obscenity, criminal intimidation, rape and hurting religious sentiments have been slapped against the 32-year-old 'Sex Swami'.

Now in police custody in Karnataka, he was on the run since March 3 after television channels showed footage of him in bed with two women.