Nithyananda case officials showed porn to ashram kids: cops

Ahmedabad: Police officials investigating a case of abduction registered against 'self-styled godman' Nithyananda has been booked under POCSO Act for allegedly showing porn material to children of his ashram, located near Ahmedabad, during the probe, an officer said on monday.

Among the 14 people against whom an FIR was registered on march 6 on the order of a special court also included members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

The court had ordered registration of the case while hearing a complaint petition filed by Nithyananda's follower Girish Turlapati, an inmate ot the ashram-cum-gurukul located in Hirapur village on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

The FIR was registered at Vivekanandanagar police station in Ahmedabad district, this is the same police station where a case of wrongful confinement and abduction of three children was registered against the controversial self-styled godman in november last year.

In his petition, Turlapati alleged that police officials including inspector R B Rana of Vivekanandnagar police station, and members of the CWC asked offensive questions to the minor inmates of the ashram.

The complainant alleged that the children were subjected to mental torture by the investigators.

Turlapati also alleged that the children, including girls, were shown morphed pornographic videos and photos by the investigating teams.

The accused have been identified as police inspector Rana, Deputy SP K T Kamariya, DySP Riyaz Sarwaiya, DySP S H Sharda, district child security officer Dilip Mer and members of CWC, including its chairman Bhavesh Patel.

Police had booked the controversial godman and two of his women disciples on the charges of wrongful confinement and abduction of two girls and a boy living in his ashram.