The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Swami Nithyananda, accused of rape, need not take a paternity (potency) test in a hospital in Bangalore on Wednesday as directed by the trial court.
A Bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and N.V. Ramana granted the relief on an appeal filed by him challenging a Karnataka High Court order refusing to stay the trial court’s direction that he should take the test.
The Bench, after hearing senior counsel Mohan Parasaran and C.V. Nagesh appearing for Nithyananda, however, said all five accused in the case should appear before the trial court on August 18. Mr. Parasaran submitted that a criminal revision petition filed by Nithyananda against the trial court order had been pending in the High Court for two years.
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However, the High Court took up the case suddenly and without hearing the petitioner, passed the order directing him to take the test, counsel said. Mr. Nagesh said a false case was foisted on the petitioner because of media propaganda as part of a conspiracy against the spiritual leader to involve him in a scandal.