The Supreme Court on Friday has dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by a father who alleged that his two daughters were being held captive and brainwashed at the Isha Yoga Centre, led by self-styled spiritual leader Sadhguru, in Coimbatore.
The court evaluated statements from the two daughters, aged 39 and 42, affirming that they are adults who voluntarily reside at the ashram and can leave at their discretion. Consequently, the court concluded that no further action was warranted in the habeas corpus case, effectively closing it.
The Supreme Court also clarified that this decision would not affect any regulatory obligations imposed on the Isha Yoga Centre.
Earlier, on October 3, the Supreme Court instructed the Tamil Nadu Police to refrain from acting on a Madras High Court order that mandated an investigation into the alleged illegal confinement of the women at the ashram. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading the bench alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, remarked, “You can’t let the Army or the police into an establishment like this.” The bench also required the police to submit a status report, as directed by the High Court on September 30.
The case was transferred to the Supreme Court following a complaint from the Sadhguru-led Isha Foundation regarding the Madras High Court’s investigation, which permitted police officers to raid its Coimbatore premises amid kidnapping allegations.
The High Court’s order for an investigation arose from a habeas corpus petition filed by retired professor Dr. S. Kamara, who claimed that his daughters and others were being held against their will. He alleged that the Foundation had “brainwashed” the sisters, leading to a severing of all family ties, despite one daughter testifying otherwise in front of the High Court.
In response, the Isha Foundation issued an official statement refuting the allegations. “Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru to impart yoga and spirituality to people. We believe that adult individuals have the freedom and wisdom to choose their path. We do not ask people to get married or take up monkhood; these are personal choices.
The Isha Yoga Centre is home to thousands who are not monks, alongside those who have chosen Brahmacharya or monkhood,” the statement read.
Additionally, the Foundation claimed that recent police visits, including those by the Superintendent of Police, were part of routine inquiries and not raids. They stated that officers were interviewing residents and volunteers to understand their lifestyle and experiences at the centre.
This case highlights ongoing tensions between individual autonomy and family concerns, as well as the complexities surrounding spiritual communities and legal oversight.
