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The Isha Foundation, a prominent yoga and spiritual organization founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, found itself under scrutiny on Tuesday as 150 police officers conducted a search operation at its ashram in Thondamuthur, Coimbatore. The search was ordered by the Madras High Court, which sought a report on all criminal cases registered against the foundation. The court's intervention stemmed from a habeas corpus petition filed by Dr. S. Kamaraj, a retired professor, who claimed his two daughters, Geetha and Latha, were being held captive at the foundation. He alleged brainwashing and forced conversion into monastic life, restricting their contact with their families.
The court's inquiry delved into the apparent discrepancies between Sadhguru's teachings and his personal life. The judges questioned why Sadhguru, who had his own daughter married and settled, encouraged other young women to renounce worldly life and become hermits. While the daughters, present in court, affirmed their voluntary stay at the foundation, the judges remained unconvinced, citing the daughters' apparent hostility towards their parents and the alleged brainwashing tactics employed by the foundation. The petition also highlighted a pending POCSO case against a doctor associated with the foundation, involving allegations of molesting school girls.
Despite the daughters' insistence on their autonomy and the foundation's defense of individual choice, the court demanded a comprehensive status report from the Additional Public Prosecutor on all criminal cases pending against Isha Foundation. This report, due by October 4, is expected to shed light on the foundation's alleged misconduct and legal violations. The foundation maintains that it does not coerce anyone into marriage or monastic life, emphasizing that the choice is individual. They also point to a previous instance where a stay order was granted against a criminal complaint filed against the foundation regarding a crematorium construction project.
The situation highlights the tension between individual freedom and parental rights, particularly in the context of spiritual organizations. The Madras High Court's inquiry into the Isha Foundation's practices raises crucial questions about the boundaries of religious freedom, the potential for manipulation within spiritual communities, and the balance between individual choice and familial bonds. The court's decision to seek a comprehensive report on the foundation's activities will likely bring more clarity to the situation, potentially revealing further details about the alleged misconduct and the foundation's response to these allegations.