Isha Foundation gets reprieve as Madras HC dismisses plea centre is holding two women captive

The Madras High Court on Friday ruled in favour of Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation, in the Habeas Corpus plea moved by Sathyajothi, stating that there was no truth in the allegations that her two daughters –  Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu – were being brainwashed and “held captive” at the Isha Yoga Center.

The division bench of Justices S Nagamuthu and V Bharathidasan dismissed the plea after examining the report of the Principal District Judge, who had visited the Isha Yoga Center on 10 August, to interview Maa Mathi and Maa Maayu, born Geetha (34) and Latha (31).

The bench noted that the PDJ, “has categorically mentioned in his report that there is no truth in the allegation and that the detainees are staying at the Foundation on their own will.”

Earlier, the Foundation had shared with the media a copy of a letter signed by the two women and addressed to the deputy superintendent of police, Perur sub-division, Coimbatore. In the letter, the women claimed that they are living at the centre voluntarily and when they tried to explain this to their father at the DSP’s office, he began shouting at them and using abusive language instead of listening to them. They also sought help from the police to protect them against their father.

Striking down the allegations made against the foundation, the bench said, “Prima facie, we are satisfied that they are staying on their own wish”. The Bench, after listening to the counsel of Isha Foundation, permitted the parents to continue visiting their daughters, as they have been doing in the past, with prior intimation.

In a statement released on Friday, Isha Foundation said that it would like to “thank the Madras High Court for upholding the truth, and for having brought the issue to a close, as some miscreants were misleading society and the public with a campaign of lies against the foundation.”