The government has cancelled the passport of rape-accused self-styled godman Nithyananda even as the Ecuadorian government denied that it has granted asylum to him.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said all Indian missions and posts abroad have been sensitised to inform local governments so that he could be traced.
“We have sensitised all our missions and posts and told them to inform local governments about him,” he said at a press conference.
Nithyananda is wanted in India for multiple cases including alleged rape and abduction.
Kumar said Nithyananda’s passport was cancelled before its validity was to expire in 2018 and that his application for a new one was also rejected because of cases pending against him.
Asked about reports that Nithyananda declaring founding his own country called ‘Kailassa’ in his website, Kumar said, “Setting up a website is different from setting up a nation.”
"No judiciary can touch me. M param shiva"
— Divesh Singh (@YippeekiYay_DH) November 22, 2019
: #NithyanandaSwami from an undisclosed location. pic.twitter.com/WXdZ6bGCdO
The controversial figure is wanted by Gujarat Police in a case of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children at his Ahmedabad ashram.
"I will show my integrity to you by revealing the reality and truth to you. Now nobody can touch me, I can tell you the truth - I am Param Shiva. Understand? No stupid court can prosecute me for revealing the truth. I am Param Shiva," says Nithyananda, wearing a rust-coloured turban and robe.
The undated video has been in wide circulation on social media since November 22. Nithyananda appears to be giving a sermon from an undisclosed location.
"By being here you declared your integrity and allegiance to me... I promise you, no more death for you all," he is seen telling his followers.
Meanwhile, the Ecuadorian government denied charges that it granted asylum to Nithyananda helped him purchase any land. The statement issued by the Embassy of Ecuador noted that the country, as a matter of fact, had denied self-styled godman’s request for asylum, and he left for Haiti.
“The Embassy of Ecuador categorically denies the statement, wherever published, that self-styled Guru Nithyananda was given asylum by Ecuador or has been helped by the government of Ecuador in purchasing any land or island in South America near or far from Ecuador,” the statement read.
The embassy also noted that all the information pertaining to Nithyananda’s ‘Kailaasa’ being established in Ecuador was sourced from the godman’s website and advised media to refrain from citing the South American country in information related to him.
Earlier this week, Nithyananda’s website kailaasa.org claimed the formation of a new nation called Kailaasa which was described as “the greatest Hindu nation on Earth” with a flag and emblem of its own.
Nithyananda has been accused of abducting young children in Gujarat. He had been under trial since June 2018 in a case of rape, unnatural sex, cheating, and criminal intimidation.
In the meantime, reports emerged late Thursday night that Gujarat police would approach the Interpol seeking a ‘Blue Corner notice’ to locate the controversial godman. Ahmedabad rural police wrote a letter to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday in this regard, a senior official who is probing the allegations of abduction and illegal confinement against Nithyananda told