The Karnataka high court on Monday adjourned till November 29 the hearing of a criminal petition filed by self-styled godman Nityananda, praying for quashing of two FIRs — including rape — filed against him.
When the matter came up before Justice Hulwadi G. Ramesh, the CID sought more time to argue while counsel for Nityananda submitted that he was ready to argue the case and urged the court to dispose of the matter, contending that the FIRs were "illegal".
Justice Hulwadi Ramesh then adjourned the case for final hearing till November 29. Earlier on October 20, Justice Arali Nagaraj, who was hearing the case, posted it for final hearing on November 8.
Subsequently, he rescued himself citing "repeated adjournments sought by the CID" as the reason. On November 4, Chief Justice J.S. Khehar allotted the case to Justice Hulwadi Ramesh.
Nityananda landed in a controversy in March after a television channel aired a purported video footage showing him in a compromising position with a Tamil Actress. He was later arrested from Solan district in Himachal Pradesh on April 21 and granted conditional bail on June 11.