Supreme Court stays Madras HC order against Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation: ‘Can’t let an army of police into an institution’

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the directions issued by the Madras High Court directing a probe into Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation.

Isha Foundation moved the top court challenging the HC that sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government on all criminal cases registered against Sadhguru and the foundation.

“You can’t let an army of police into an institution like this,”  Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

The HC 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.

On Tuesday, 150 police personnel, led by an Additional Superintendent of Police rank officer from Coimbatore, entered  the  ashram in Thondamuthur to conduct inquiries.

A bench headed by the CJI passed the order after interacting with two women. "We stay the directions of the High Court to the police," the court said.

According to Indian Express, one of the women also appeared online and told the bench that they had appeared before the HC. “We are here at Isha Yoga Centre by our own will. And, we also told the honourable judge of the high court that this harassment from our father’s side has been continuing for the past 8 years.”

“These are issues of religious freedom. This is a very urgent and serious case. This is about Isha Foundation, there is Sadhguru who is very revered and has lakhs of followers. The high court cannot start such enquiries on oral assertions,” said CJI Chandrachud as quoted by Bar and Bench reported.