Nithyananda of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam in Bidadi was today set free from the prison in Ramanagaram after a being in police and judicial custody for 50 days. He has been charged with rape, criminal intimidation and cheating. Almost immediately after the release, the self-styled god man went back to his ashram.

He was released following instructions from the Karnataka High Court, which told Nithyananda to provide a personal bond of Rs. 1 lakh, along with two collaterals of Rs. 1 lakh each.

But before allowing his bail application on Friday, the “slease swami”, as he was called after a sting operation that showed him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress from Chennai, he was asked to submit his passport in the High Court.

Prior to Nithyananda’ release from the Ramanagaram Prison, his advocate Shyam Sundar handed over the papers related to the Rs. 1 lakh bond and the sureties to Ramanagaram Magistrate Pushpavati.
Nithyananda was taken into custody by the officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Karnataka, along with Bhaktananda and two other close associates.

Swami Bhakthananda, a senior swami at Dhyanapeetam, said, “Nithyananda is going to perform panchatapas, an intense type of meditation from Sunday. The ashramites will be celebrating Nithyananda's arrival by organizing special puja and meditation”.