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Inmates of Swami Nithyananda's Dhyanapeetam Ashram are neither in a position to deny nor confirm whether the swami was indeed the person who was seen with a woman in the video clippings.
On Monday, Ashram inmates Swami Nitya Sacchidananda, Swami Nitya Jnanananda and Swami Nitya Pranananda jointly said: "We cannot confirm positively whether it is true or it is not true."
When it came to Tamil actress Ranjeeta, whose name was associated with the tapes, Swami Sacchidananda said she was just a devotee. "She used to visit the ashram for yoga courses seven months ago, and she is a devotee. Beyond this point, we can't say anything," he said.
IT'S A CONSPIRACY
The Ashram inmates termed the entire scandal a conspiracy carried out with `surgical precision'. "Some blogs got wind of the tapes two weeks before they were aired. We also have information that CDs were distributed to senior police officers and politicians hours before the telecast. We realized this when we went to them for help after the clippings were aired," the inmates said.
On the statement of the swami's former driver, Lenin, that a hidden camera in the air purifier was used for recording the `bedroom scene', Swami Sacchidananda said it was impossible for a single person to carry out an operation of this magnitude. "This matter will be thoroughly investigated; ashram inmates don't have complete details as of now."
Swami Sacchidananda said he can't speculate on allegations of a land dispute between the swami and the Maran family in Tamil Nadu, which resulted in the sting operation.
RAPE CHARGES
On charges of rape levelled by a 23-year-old brahmacharini, Swami Sacchidananda sought the woman's identity. "When the entire world is seeing, whom should she fear? Anybody can level allegations anonymously," he added.
