A comprehensive status report filed by the Coimbatore Police with the Supreme Court has shed light on the incidents recorded over the past 15 years at the Isha Foundation, led by spiritual leader Swami Jaggi Vasudev. Superintendent of Police, K. Kartikeyan, authored the 23-page report covering a range of issues from missing persons to legal complaints regarding the foundation’s activities.
The report outlines six missing person cases registered at the Alandurai Police Station, which holds jurisdiction over the area where the Isha Foundation is located. Out of these, five cases have been concluded without further action, while one remains open with the person still unaccounted for.
Further complexities are highlighted through seven additional cases filed under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) related to unnatural deaths, including suicides, two of which are awaiting forensic analysis.
One of the more significant disclosures includes a complaint about the unauthorized construction of a crematorium by the foundation, a matter that is presently contested in the Madras High Court.
The status report also details a grave accusation involving a doctor affiliated with Isha Outreach, who is under investigation in a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) case after a school principal’s complaint. The doctor currently remains in custody, denied bail.
Another alarming issue was raised by a woman who reported a sexual assault during a yoga course in 2021. Although initially retracting her complaint, the police are seeking legal avenues to continue the investigation due to procedural concerns over her statement and the fact that the accused has yet to be interrogated.
Additional legal troubles for the foundation include an FIR concerning alleged land encroachment on tribal territories, with the investigation still underway.
An internal survey conducted by the police, questioning 558 individuals at the Isha Yoga Centre, assessed general conditions like food and safety. This included interviews with two women from a family that lodged a habeas corpus plea, claiming wrongful detention. While the report from child experts called for enhanced awareness about child rights and helpline accessibility, psychiatric evaluations noted some individuals exhibiting mood swings, warranting further observation.
Despite these concerns, many residents, including several Brahmacharis, affirmed their freedom to move and communicate freely, contradicting claims of confinement.
