New Delhi:

Amid Congress protests in Parliament over the Adani issue, spiritual leader Sadhguru has said wealth creators and job providers of the country should not become the “subject of political rhetoric” and that it is important for Indian business to thrive. Sadhguru has said it was “disheartening” to observe disruptions in Parliament.

“It is disheartening to observe disruptions in the Indian Parliament, particularly when we aspire to be a beacon of democracy for the world. The wealth creators and job providers of India should not become subject of political rhetoric… If there are discrepancies, that can be handled within the framework of law, but should not become political football. Most important that Indian businesses must thrive. It’s the only way Bharat will become Bhavya Bharat,” he said in a post on X.

The Winter Session of Parliament, which started on November 25, has seen little business due to repeated adjournments. The session is likely to end around December 20 before the year-end holidays.

When the session started, Congress MPs demanded a discussion on the US Department of Justice indictment against the directors of Adani Green. This led to differences within the Opposition ranks because Congress allies like Trinamool Congress wanted the House to function and raise issues such as price rise, Manipur unrest and unemployment.

The Adani Group has maintained that Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vneet Jaain are clear of bribery charges. Gautam Adani has said this is not a challenge the group has faced for the first time and stressed that “every attack makes us stronger”.

Other issues that have halted business in the two Houses include the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and the ruling BJP’s allegations that the Congress worked with US billionaire George Soros to destabilise the country. The main Opposition has denied the charge.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday cancelled all proceedings against the Isha Foundation over a father’s claims his two daughters had been “brainwashed” into joining spiritual leader Sadhguru’s ashram in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, and denied their family contact with them.

The petition – claiming unlawful detention – was rejected as both Geeta and Lata were adults and living in the ashram of their “own free will”, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled.

The order, however, is for this case only, the court also said, following acknowledgment earlier that a doctor at ashram was recently charged with child abuse.

On the “brainwashed” matter it said the Madras High Court – which ordered an inquiry into the habeas corpus petition, after which police raided the ashram – acted in a “completely inappropriate” manner.

The Supreme Court noted that since neither of the daughters was a minor – they were 27 and 24 when the joined the ashram – and that the purpose of the habeas corpus petition was fulfilled by their appearing in the High Court, “no further directions were needed” from that judicial forum.

Proceedings such as this could not be used to “malign people and institutions”, the Chief Justice said in oral remarks on this case, according to legal news website Live Law.

Earlier this month the Supreme Court transferred to itself the case then heard by the Madras High Court, and halted an order directing police to investigate the father’s allegations.

READ | “Cops To Stop Probe”: Supreme Court Pauses Order Against Sadhguru

Following the High Court’s order hundreds of cops raided the Isha Foundation, prompting the appeal – against a police inquiry being conducted inside the ashram – to the Supreme Court.

The High Court then had questioned Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s actions.

READ | Why Is Sadhguru Asking Women To Live Like Hermits, High Court Asks

Isha Foundation had then, and now denied the charges and said the women – now 42 and 39 – were willing residents. They appeared in front of the High Court and affirmed the Foundation’s statement; one of the women also appeared before the Supreme Court, via video link.

She told the court her sister and she were willing residents and that their father had been harassing them for eight years. She also said their mother had similarly harassed them.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Isha Foundation, pointed out today that even Tamil Nadu Police’s status report noted the women were voluntarily residing at the ashram.

The court also spoke to the father and pointed out he could not “control” the lives of his grown children. In oral observations he was told to “win their confidence” instead of filing petitions.

“Many People Have Gone Missing…”

Earlier, in a counter-petition, Tamil Nadu Police said many others who had entered the foundation had been reported missing. The petition also gave details of a POCSO, or Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, case against a doctor employed by the Isha Outreach programme.

READ | “Many People Have Gone Missing Inside Sadhguru’s Ashram”: Police

There was also mention of a sexual assault complaint filed by a Delhi woman; the alleged incident happened when she was attending a yoga course at the ashram in 2021.

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New Delhi:

In big relief for spiritual leader Sadhguru, the Supreme Court today paused a Madras High Court order that had asked Tamil Nadu police to investigate cases filed against his Isha Foundation. The top court took over the case and asked the police to file a status report.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, was hearing Isha Foundation’s challenge against the high court order after hundreds of cops entered its premises in Coimbatore Tuesday.

The high court’s probe order had come after retired professor S Kamaraj filed a petition, alleging that his daughters Geeta and Lata were “brainwashed to reside at Isha Yoga Centre” in Coimbatore. He alleged that the foundation did not allow them to maintain contact with their family.

Isha Foundation denied the allegations and said the two women — aged 42 and 39 — had been staying at its premises willingly. The two women were produced in the high court, where they confirmed this.

Isha Foundation also said the petitioner and others tried to trespass under the pretext of being members of a fact-finding committee.

Hearing the matter today, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud noted that a doctor at the Foundation’s Ashram was recently charged with child abuse under the stringent POCSO Act and said the probe must continue. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Isha Foundation, said the alleged incidents did not happen on its campus.

The Chief Justice then asked if the two women were online so that the bench, also comprising Justice JB Pardiwala, could speak to them. Mr Rohatgi said they were.

The Chief Justice then noted, “The first thing is that you cannot let an army of police in the establishment like this… what we will do is ask a judicial officer to visit the premises, and talk to these two inmates.”

One of the women appeared before the court virtually and reiterated that they were staying at the ashram willingly. She alleged that their father had been harassing them for the past eight years.

Noting that this was a habeas corpus petition, the Chief Justice said, “We would like to hear both monks in the chamber and come back in five minutes.”

The Chief Justice later said the women had told them that they joined the Ashram when they were 24 and 27, respectively, and were living there willingly. The court also noted that the mother of the two women had filed a similar petition eight years back.

New Delhi:

Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who underwent an emergency brain surgery at a private hospital here after suffering “life-threatening” bleeding in the skull, is recovering well and making steady progress, the Isha foundation said on Thursday.

In an Instagram story posted on Wednesday, Sadhguru’s daughter Radhe Jaggi wrote, “For those asking, Sadhguru is doing well and recovering quickly.” In an official statement, Isha Foundation said, “Sadhguru has been recovering well and making steady progress. His parameters are normal and stable.” In a post on ‘X’ later in the night, the foundation said, “Sadhguru is recovering well and making steady progress. We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from everyone.” The 66-year-old spiritual guru is the founder of the Isha Foundation and has launched campaigns such as ”Save Soil” and ”Rally for Rivers” for environment conservation.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said in a statement on Wednesday, “The surgery was carried out on March 17 to remove bleeding in the skull. Sadhguru was weaned off the ventilator post surgery.” He has shown “steady progress” and his “vital parameters have improved”, the hospital said.

Sadhguru also posted a video on his Instagram account from his hospital bed. “The Apollo hospital neurosurgeons cut through my skull to try and find something but found nothing — totally empty. So they gave up and patched it up. Here I am in Delhi with the patched-up skull but no damaged brain,” he said in a lighter vein.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)