The Bolivian government has accused officials of ‘Kailasa,’ the self-styled nation of fugitive godman Nithyananda, of “land trafficking” after they had negotiated leases for 1,000 years for huge tracts of the Amazon with local communities.
Bolivian authorities have arrested at least 20 individuals who were associated with Kailasa last week for land grabbing charges, The New York Times reported. Officials stated that all the deals negotiated by members of Kailasa were invalidated, and the members involved were deported to their native countries, including India, the United States, Sweden, and China.
Bolivia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly rejected any association with Kailasa, stating, “Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the alleged nation ‘United States of Kailasa,’” The New York Times reported.
Who Is Nithyananda? Five Key Facts About the Fugitive Godman
1. Nithyananda’s Real Identity and Alleged Whereabouts
Born Arunachalam Rajasekaran on January 1, 1978, in Tamil Nadu, Nithyananda is reportedly living in the United States, according to a 2023 Money Control report. The Indian government has rubbished allegations that he has an island in Ecuador.
2. Allegations of a Supreme Title
Nithyananda titles himself the “supreme pontiff” (SPH), which is a designation not accepted by Hinduism. Nevertheless, his devotees use the designation “the SPH” to confirm his self-asserted legitimacy.
3. Criminal Charges and Legal Troubles in India
Wanted in India since 2019, Nithyananda has several charges against him, including rape and sexual assault. In 2010, he was detained in Himachal Pradesh after hiding out after a video of him with actress Ranjitha appeared on television. He has been charge-sheeted on charges of rape, unnatural sex, cheating, criminal intimidation, and conspiracy.
4. Child Kidnapping Charges and the Establishment of ‘Kailasa’
In 2019, an FIR was registered against Nithyananda in Gujarat on charges of kidnapping and illegally holding children captive to raise funds for donations to his Ahmedabad ashram. In the same year, he announced establishing the so-called “United States of Kailasa (USK),” misrepresenting it as “two billion practicing Hindus.” The Indian government has disassociated itself with Nithyananda and instructed its missions in the US and South America to keep him under surveillance.
5. India’s Position on Nithyananda
In 2023, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi made it clear that India has no relation with Nithyananda or his so-called “Hindu nation.” Government sources assured that Indian missions have been asked to deny any assistance to his representatives, underlining that Nithyananda is widely believed to be a fraud.
With increasing scrutiny from global authorities, Nithyananda’s ‘Kailasa’ continues to be challenged by the law, while his devotees face arrests and deportations.
