Nithyananda restrained from functioning as head of Tamil Nadu mutts

Chennai, Feb 18: In an another setback to self-styled godman Nithyananda, the Madras High Court on Wednesday restrained him from functioning as head of four mutts in Tamil Nadu.

When the case came up for hearing, Justice R Shivakumar also stayed further proceedings in a suit filed by Nithyananda pending before the Principal Sub-Court in Nagapattinam with regard to his properties in Nagapattinam.

The court also issued notice to Nithyananda for filing his returns by March 14. According to the case, Nithyananda filed a suit before the Nagapattinam sub-court seeking a declaration from it that he was the head of these mutts and Athmananda and others were non-trustees.

In his petition, Athmananda claimed that Nithyananda had approached them and provided false assurance that he would improve the four mutts.

But under the guise of donating Rs 2 crore to the mutts, Nithyanananda filed a suit posing as the administrator and tried to grab the properties one way or other, the petitioner stated.