Important information and updates about Vinay K. Bharadwaj and his unfortunate situation after joining Nithyananda's cult.
Swami Nithyananda (Mr. Rajashekara):
Self-proclaimed religious leader and 'Enlightened Master' Swami Nithyananda of Nithyananda Foundation, Life Bliss Foundation, Nithyanananda Dhyanapeetam, and Nithyananda Vedic Temples is facing multiple charges of fraud, rape, criminal intimidation and money laundering in Karnataka, India.
He was under investigation by the CID (Central Intelligence Department) of India and two chargesheets have been filed against him as a result of the investigation. In a separate case in USA, in June of 2012, “Nithyananda Foundation” was found guilty of fraud in federal civil court, in which the jury voted unanimously in the decision.
The USA federal judge further declared that Nithyananda is an agent of Nithyananda Foundation. Nithyananda Foundation is also facing several other lawsuits in USA and India. Nithyananda is currently absconding from authorities. He is wanted for questioning by the state police of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in connection with complaints against him.
Vinay K Bharadwaj:
Software Engineer at Microsoft for over five years, Vinay graduated with high distinction earning a Bachelor's Degree from the highly prestigious India Institute of Technology (IIT). After graduation from IIT Bombay, Vinay continued his education and received a Master's Degree from Rice University in Houston, TX. Young man, with a promising future ahead of him at Microsoft, was planning to get married in 2006. At present he is wrongly convicted on falsified sex abuse with minor charges and serving time in a Washington State corrections facility.
Meeting With Nithyananda:
Vinay initially met Nithyananda in 2005 in Seattle at a public discourse held at University of Washington. Nithyananda convinced Vinay that through him he could achieve "enlightenment" and liberation from the life-and-death cycle. Vinay was persuaded by Nithyananda to join his mission. Vinay quit his career at Microsoft soon became a full-time member of the organization.
Life at the Nithyananda Vedic Temple
Seattle:
Vinay's intentions were noble: he wanted to attain enlightenment while at same time helping society by being a part of Nithyananda's organization. Over the course of three to four years he taught meditation classes and assisted with a variety of religious ceremonies at the Nithyananda Vedic Temple of Seattle. However, during this time, he became a victim of Nithyananda's sex abuse and subsequent retaliation for speaking out against the abuse he suffered.
Swami With A Sex Contract:
Under the pretext of practicing tantra, Nithyananda has allegedly abused many of his disciples, making them sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) similar to the one shown here to intimidate them into not coming forward. The victims were forced to sign the document without proper counsel and it is doubtful this is a valid legal document. In fact, the members that signed did not fully understand the repurcussion of signing this document nor that they would become the victims of the perverse activities of a sexual predator.
Nithyananda sexually abused Vinay multiple times both in India and in USA over the course of approximately two and half years. Nithyananda is believed to have abused more than 40 (some estimates are close to 100) such female and male members multiple times each between 2005 and 2010. Indian police officials with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department, India) were able to retrieve a few copies of the sex NDA document, but Nithyananda's henchmen destroyed most of them.
Realization that He was Being
Victimized:
In late 2008, Vinay began to have doubts about Nithyananda's actions and started making enquiries among fellow members in the organization to see if they were also the victims of sex abuse from Nithyananda. There was no spiritual benefit to the sex abuse he was suffering. Further, when Vinay visited India in 2009, he verbalized criticism that Nithyananda was a fraud.
Unfortunately for Vinay, Nithyananda quickly heard of Vinay's doubts from other members in the organization. This led Nithyananda to first verbally abuse, and then to threaten Vinay in front of several cult members, in order to intimidate him into silence.
Nithyananda also instructed Aarthi Rao, also a member and devotee, to write an email to Vinay saying no sexual abuse was taking place in the ashram. Aarthi Rao blindly obeyed Nithyananda's command, in spite of being a victim herself. Aarthi Rao along with Vinay Bharadwaj are amongst the victims listed in a 430-page charge sheet filed by Karnataka CID against Nithyananda in Karnataka, India and about to go to trial.
Repercussions for Speaking Out:
Nithyananda influenced a temple priest to file a fabricated criminal case against Vinay in June 2010 in Seattle, WA (USA) for "harassment of one of the priest's relatives" after the above incidents. Note that this case was filed immediately after Nithyananda was released on bail from Karnataka prison.
This case was won by Vinay and quickly dismissed. In order to silence Vinay, and to prevent him from taking action against him, Nithyananda convinced the same temple priest to cooperate with another fabricated criminal case against Vinay in October 2010.
Vinay had been in India talking to the Karnataka CID police authorities in India to file a sex abuse case against Nithyananda. When he got to know of the false charges against him in Seattle, Vinay chose to defend himself and prove his innocence in Seattle court (Note: to date Nithyananda has failed to cooperate with investigation or face trial for charges against him, but instead has tried to intimidate the victims by filing various cases through members of his organization). Unfortunately for Vinay, the verdict went against him in this Seattle case.
All of the witnesses from the prosecution, including the alleged victim were continuing members of the Nithyananda cult have lied under oath as well as have verbalized their willingness to lie for Nithyananda.
Wrongly Convicted:
Vinay has been unfortunately become the victim of retaliation for speaking out against Nithyananda's criminal organization. He is currently serving his sentence in a state correctional center. Vinay, and his family, need all the support and help in fighting the evil of Nithyananda and his organization. Further, Vinay is a key witness in the Karnataka CID case against Nithyananda in India. A legal defense fund is being established for Vinay Bharadwaj, of which all donations will go to support the legal representation of Vinay so he can clear his name and prove his innocence.
What You Can Do to Help:
Please donate to Vinay's legal defense fund to help him fight
this case on appeal. You can donate here. Please mention the
money is for Vinay Bharadwaj and it will be forwarded to his
family to assist with his legal defense.
If you happen to know any of Vinay's friends and well-wishers,
please forward this blog post to them so they can learn about how
to help.
If you happen to have information pertaining to the case that will
help Vinay, please send me a message. I will forward it
immediately to concerned authorities.
Do not patronize or support any organization affiliated with
Nithyananda.
Many thanks for your support on this important case!
Swami Nithyananda (Mr. Rajashekara):
Self-proclaimed religious leader and 'Enlightened Master' Swami Nithyananda of Nithyananda Foundation, Life Bliss Foundation, Nithyanananda Dhyanapeetam, and Nithyananda Vedic Temples is facing multiple charges of fraud, rape, criminal intimidation and money laundering in Karnataka, India.
He was under investigation by the CID (Central Intelligence Department) of India and two chargesheets have been filed against him as a result of the investigation. In a separate case in USA, in June of 2012, “Nithyananda Foundation” was found guilty of fraud in federal civil court, in which the jury voted unanimously in the decision.
The USA federal judge further declared that Nithyananda is an agent of Nithyananda Foundation. Nithyananda Foundation is also facing several other lawsuits in USA and India. Nithyananda is currently absconding from authorities. He is wanted for questioning by the state police of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in connection with complaints against him.
Vinay K Bharadwaj:
Software Engineer at Microsoft for over five years, Vinay graduated with high distinction earning a Bachelor's Degree from the highly prestigious India Institute of Technology (IIT). After graduation from IIT Bombay, Vinay continued his education and received a Master's Degree from Rice University in Houston, TX. Young man, with a promising future ahead of him at Microsoft, was planning to get married in 2006. At present he is wrongly convicted on falsified sex abuse with minor charges and serving time in a Washington State corrections facility.
Meeting With Nithyananda:
Vinay initially met Nithyananda in 2005 in Seattle at a public discourse held at University of Washington. Nithyananda convinced Vinay that through him he could achieve "enlightenment" and liberation from the life-and-death cycle. Vinay was persuaded by Nithyananda to join his mission. Vinay quit his career at Microsoft soon became a full-time member of the organization.Life at the Nithyananda Vedic Temple Seattle:
Vinay's intentions were noble: he wanted to attain enlightenment while at same time helping society by being a part of Nithyananda's organization. Over the course of three to four years he taught meditation classes and assisted with a variety of religious ceremonies at the Nithyananda Vedic Temple of Seattle. However, during this time, he became a victim of Nithyananda's sex abuse and subsequent retaliation for speaking out against the abuse he suffered.Swami With A Sex Contract:
Under the pretext of practicing tantra, Nithyananda has allegedly abused many of his disciples, making them sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) similar to the one shown here to intimidate them into not coming forward. The victims were forced to sign the document without proper counsel and it is doubtful this is a valid legal document. In fact, the members that signed did not fully understand the repurcussion of signing this document nor that they would become the victims of the perverse activities of a sexual predator.Nithyananda sexually abused Vinay multiple times both in India and in USA over the course of approximately two and half years. Nithyananda is believed to have abused more than 40 (some estimates are close to 100) such female and male members multiple times each between 2005 and 2010. Indian police officials with the CID (Criminal Investigation Department, India) were able to retrieve a few copies of the sex NDA document, but Nithyananda's henchmen destroyed most of them.
Realization that He was Being Victimized:
In late 2008, Vinay began to have doubts about Nithyananda's actions and started making enquiries among fellow members in the organization to see if they were also the victims of sex abuse from Nithyananda. There was no spiritual benefit to the sex abuse he was suffering. Further, when Vinay visited India in 2009, he verbalized criticism that Nithyananda was a fraud.Unfortunately for Vinay, Nithyananda quickly heard of Vinay's doubts from other members in the organization. This led Nithyananda to first verbally abuse, and then to threaten Vinay in front of several cult members, in order to intimidate him into silence.
Nithyananda also instructed Aarthi Rao, also a member and devotee, to write an email to Vinay saying no sexual abuse was taking place in the ashram. Aarthi Rao blindly obeyed Nithyananda's command, in spite of being a victim herself. Aarthi Rao along with Vinay Bharadwaj are amongst the victims listed in a 430-page charge sheet filed by Karnataka CID against Nithyananda in Karnataka, India and about to go to trial.
Repercussions for Speaking Out:
Nithyananda influenced a temple priest to file a fabricated criminal case against Vinay in June 2010 in Seattle, WA (USA) for "harassment of one of the priest's relatives" after the above incidents. Note that this case was filed immediately after Nithyananda was released on bail from Karnataka prison.This case was won by Vinay and quickly dismissed. In order to silence Vinay, and to prevent him from taking action against him, Nithyananda convinced the same temple priest to cooperate with another fabricated criminal case against Vinay in October 2010.
Vinay had been in India talking to the Karnataka CID police authorities in India to file a sex abuse case against Nithyananda. When he got to know of the false charges against him in Seattle, Vinay chose to defend himself and prove his innocence in Seattle court (Note: to date Nithyananda has failed to cooperate with investigation or face trial for charges against him, but instead has tried to intimidate the victims by filing various cases through members of his organization). Unfortunately for Vinay, the verdict went against him in this Seattle case.
All of the witnesses from the prosecution, including the alleged victim were continuing members of the Nithyananda cult have lied under oath as well as have verbalized their willingness to lie for Nithyananda.
Wrongly Convicted:
What You Can Do to Help:
Please donate to Vinay's legal defense fund to help him fight
this case on appeal. You can donate here. Please mention the
money is for Vinay Bharadwaj and it will be forwarded to his
family to assist with his legal defense.
If you happen to know any of Vinay's friends and well-wishers,
please forward this blog post to them so they can learn about how
to help.
If you happen to have information pertaining to the case that will
help Vinay, please send me a message. I will forward it
immediately to concerned authorities.
Do not patronize or support any organization affiliated with
Nithyananda.
Many thanks for your support on this important case!
