Fri Oct 18 09:02:42 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Dismisses Claims of Brainwashing at Sadhguru’s Ashram
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition alleging that two women were brainwashed into joining Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation ashram in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The court ruled that the women, aged 42 and 39, were adults and living at the ashram of their own free will.
The petition was filed by the women’s father, who claimed that they were being unlawfully detained and denied contact with their family. The Madras High Court had ordered an inquiry and police raids at the ashram, but the Supreme Court deemed this action inappropriate.
The court noted that the women had appeared before the High Court and affirmed their willingness to reside at the ashram. One of the women also appeared before the Supreme Court via video link and stated that she and her sister were happy and that their father had been harassing them for eight years.
The Supreme Court also criticized the father, stating that he could not control the lives of his adult children and should focus on winning their trust instead of filing legal petitions.
The ruling, however, applies only to this specific case. The court acknowledged that a doctor at the ashram is facing charges of child abuse and that investigations into those allegations will continue.
Despite the dismissal of the brainwashing allegations, the case has raised concerns about potential abuses at the ashram. Tamil Nadu Police had previously reported several missing persons cases linked to the Isha Foundation, and a sexual assault complaint was also filed against a doctor employed by the foundation.
The Isha Foundation has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and maintains that the women are willing residents of the ashram.
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