THE TRUTH:🔗

The truth is, rare sandalwood trees have been growing naturally in and around the Bengaluru Aadheenam for several centuries maybe even thousands of years. Bengaluru Aadheenam was a snake park (and even before that a forest) when His Divine Holiness made it into headquarters for his international mission. As part of the planned character-assassination of His Divine Holiness, the conspirators sent thieves to enter the campus, cut the sandalwood trees and leave a part of the logs purposely lying inside the premise to project that smuggling is underway. When Aadheenam administrators saw the cut logs, they immediately informed the Forest Department which is a standard procedure. The forest department officials ignored it as a minor issue. It may look as another one of the frivolous cases. That is not true. Laws related to sandalwood smuggling are non-bailable. It is not a coincidence. It was a planned strategy to get His Divine Holiness arrested and keep Him arrested for as long as possible until they are able to get a false confession of crime from Him by use of different torture techniques. Even if the arrest happened because of a frivolous case related to sandalwood, it would be suppressed and it would be projected in the media that the arrest was due to some kind of 'sex scandal.' The cunning strategy of using specially selected non-bailable (NBW) category or false complaints, and media justification propaganda worked and conspirators were able to get Him arrested and prolong His arrest and torture Him. Several of these false cases continue over almost a decade, and His Divine Holiness is facing the persecution relentlessly. It is of the best interest of the state to let the persecution continue, because the state is neck deep into this conspiracy and corruption.

WHAT MEDIA STATED: Media lied that He was in 'hiding' and police teams were dispatched to look for him.

THE TRUTH: It was repeatedly conveyed that His Divine Holiness was participating in the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar (the largest spiritual gathering of Hindu Saints on the planet). He was publicly available and even gave press interviews. Clearly, there was malice by media in portraying Him as absconding to defame Him.

Fullhyderabad.com, 4 March 2010: Hyderabad based online media house fuels the story of His Divine Holiness with more lies.

It was painful for the devotees and followers to read new false allegations against their beloved Guru everyday. His Divine Holiness was relentlessly working for uplifting humanity. It was heartbreaking to see the ‘name-calling’ defamations like ‘Sandalwood Smuggler’. There were speculations and rumours all around. The devotees could only pray day and night.

The social reputation, dignity, freedom of His Divine Holiness was attacked and His and very life was under constant risk. He was proven guilty by media even before a fair judicial trial. It was blatant violation of human rights as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 1, 3 and 11).

The Indian sandalwood tree (Santalum album) is perhaps the planet’s most expensive wood, because of its cosmetic and therapeutic value. But the current production across the world accounts for only one-fourth of the global market demand. This has resulted in smuggling and theft of sandalwood. Short supply coupled with high demand led to a steep rise in sandalwood prices between 2002 to 2007. Over exploitation has damaged the wood resulting in blanket ban in many countries.

Growing sandalwood by individuals was banned until 2002. Today, we can grow the trees but it is illegal to cut and harvest the wood, use it or sell it in the open market. Permission is required from the State Forest Department, which sends its officials to cut the tree and buy the sandalwood. (To frame His Divine Holiness in a violation of this law, the thieves were sent to cut the tree and leave the logs lying behind in the premise.)

For conservation and prevention of over exploitation of sandalwood trees there are several legislations passed in various parts of the world. Likewise, in Karnataka, Section 87 (1) of the Karnataka Forest Act 1963 describes the “licence for possession storage, sale or disintegration of Sandalwood.” Most laws related to sandalwood are non-bailable. For this reason alone such frivolous cases were filed against Him.

Enclosed:

The following is the Notice from the Forest Department to His Divine Holiness:

Sandalwood 34/2010-11 Assistant Forest Officer Ramanagara Sub Division Date: 26.4.2010 Notice To, Paramahamsa Nithyananda 33 years, Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Nithyanandapuri, Bangalore – Mysore Highway Bidadi Ramanagara Taluk, Jilla Subject: Regarding Nithyananda ashram possessing 70 kg of sandalwood enquiry and attendance for enquiry Details:

Response of His Divine Holiness to the summons:

Subject: Regarding Nithyananda ashram possessing 70 kg of sandalwood enquiry and attendance for enquiry Details: Ramanagara area forest crime No.: 30/2009 With relation to the above subject, we received a letter (enclosed) dated 26 April 2010, asking for Sri Nithyananda Swami to be present on 17 May 2010. Sri Nithyananda Swami is in judicial custody and hence cannot be present as told by the Forest department. We would hence like to request a date in June. Thanking you Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam

In the following court petition, the Forest Range department informs that on the basis of hearing that there are forest animals inside the Bengaluru Aadheenam, they will be conducting a search. However, their source of finding out this information is not cited. petitioner involving in other crimes which are registered in Cr.No.141/10 for the offences of Sec.376, 377, 420, 120(B), 506(1)(2) and Cr.No.142/10 for the offences of Sec.295(A) & 420 IPC where the bail petition were rejected by the Hon'ble District and Sessions Judge vide order dt:21.04.10 it may be a fact that, the accused-petitioner is facing the other crimes of his not, which is also focused in media with a wide publicity definitely the character is one of the prime requirement to connect the offender to the crime but, here, in a forest offences it is only looked into the illegal possession of the property and not any sort of morality, character conduct or the reputations of the culprit or a assailant. The character conduct of the accused is not in issue to be considered. At this stage of preliminary investigation, the court should also try the offence independently and separately without having prejudice that, there are other crimes registered against him. Thus, the vision of court should be independent as for as this offence is strictly concerned which is more needful by applicable. Hence, whatever objections that has been raised in para 5 does not stand for any merits for due consideration of this court.

12. The other objections that are raised as the case still under investigation and statement of the witnesses are to be recorded and there are every chances of fleeing away from the justice and his custodial presence is required for further interrogation of the case. It is pertinent to note that, the incriminatory article has already been recovered and subjected in PF and if at all the presence of accused-petitioner is necessary for further interrogation but, his custody is not 3. Petitioner should not threaten witnesses or interfere with investigation in any manner;

(Dictated to Stenographer, transcribed by him, the transcript revised and then pronounced by me in open court on this the 30ᵗʰ day of April 2010).

TRUE COPY

R. [signature] Examiner

Examiner CPO

2010-03-29