Submission on Disinformation and Freedom of Expression During Armed Conflict: Case Study of the Adi Shaivite Velallar Community

Q. 1. a. Please describe specific situations where disinformation, misinformation or propaganda have been used or restrictions have been placed on the media or access to the Internet in order to instigate, aggravate or sustain hatred, violence or conflict. What means and methods are used to manipulate information in such situations?

b) What role have States, armed groups or social media platforms played to instigate or mitigate such manipulation of information?

c) What has been the impact on human rights and the lives of people? Which groups of people have been particularly affected and in what ways?

d) What has been the impact of such propaganda, disinformation or misinformation on the work of human rights defenders, journalists, civil society, humanitarian and development organizations?

Please provide written case-studies or reports on such situations where available.

1. Objective

a. This report highlights hateful digital ecosystem that was formed due to spread of disinformation, hate speech, false allegations and lawfare endangering the life and liberty of one of the most vulnerable and persecuted indigenous religious communities of Hinduism – Aboriginal Indigenous Agricultural Tribes (AIAT) and their leader, the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam (“the SPH”). In the case of AIAT community, disinformation was used to illegally justify over 70 assassination attempts, over 250 sexual assaults, and lawfare of 121 false cases over 10 years on the SPH and AIAT community, as well as destruction of heritage properties worth over 27 million USD.

b. Specifically, the media disinformation-triggered persecution and genocide involved:

i. Delegitimizing SPH by hate propaganda running to 17,500 hours of electronic media and 25,000 pages of print media¹, disenfranchising Him of His civil and human rights, prejudicing Him from fair representation and fair trial.

ii. Well-planned multi-layer false hate propaganda by the ‘fourth estate’ media sustained by moral disengagement, leaving the broader public in a state of wilful ignorance, motivated denial, out-group victim blaming, dehumanization and bystander apathy to even genocide.

iii. Repeated illegal imprisonment, with brazen torture, custodial assassination attempts², enforced disappearances, supported by system justification in various forms, including the common processes of bureaucracy, indifference, self-deception, diffused responsibility, and has resulted in continued systemic complicity with torture, murder and genocide.

2. Background

a. The Ādi Śaiva Vēḷāḷar community is one of the Hindu Aboriginal Indigenous Agricultural Tribes (AIATs) of India, who belong to the Śaiva (followers of Bhagavān Śiva) sub-tradition within the vast spiritual architecture of Hinduism³,

1 Statistics of Hate Content on TV Channels - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Statistics_of_Hate_Content_on_TV_Channels.pdf Hate Speech against AIAT in 2010-11 -

https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Hate_Speech_Against_AIAT_2010-11_Master_Ledger.pdf

TamilMurasu Tamil Newspaper hate speech - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/TamilMurasu_Newspaper_List..pdf Dinakaran Tamil Newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Dinakaran_Newspaper_List.pdf

Indian Express National newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Indian_Express_newspapers_final.pdf DNA National newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/DNA_%20ledger_e_paper_and_online_articles%20and_newspapers_final.pdf Deccan Herald National newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Deccan_Herald_Newspaper_List_Final.pdf

Deccan Chronicle National Newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Deccan_Chronicle_Newspaper_List_Final.pdf Social media disinformation -https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Social_Media_Disinformation_Againt_SPH_Vol-1.pdf https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Social_Media_Disinformation_Againt_SPH_Vol-2.pdf https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Social_Media_Disinformation_Againt_SPH_Vol-3.pdf https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Social_Media_Disinformation_Againt_SPH_Vol-4.pdf

Bangalore Mirror English Daily Newspaper - https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Bangalore_Mirror.pdf https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Bangalore%20Mirror_Newspaper_list_final.pdf

² The lawfare after the heavy media disinformation against the SPH for being a strong minority Hindu leader has been to delegitimize the SPH, practising Hindus and the LGBTQ community and arrest not just the SPH but the revival of the liberal gender identity framework of Hinduism. When the SPH was faced with false charges of rape alleged by a Hindumisic element, to counter this, the SPH explained the spiritual basis of being rooted in his enlightenment experience since the pre-puberty age of 10 because of which he is not physically capable of a sexual act# as his sexual growth stopped after his enlightenment experience of oneness with the cosmos. The SPH asked the police to do the test on him to exonerate him from the false case. This was spread as one more wave of disinformation with the words of the SPH twisted as ‘I am not a man’. The hate speech was used to desensitize the population to a potency test done in illegal custody which gave the SPH cardiac symptoms, was intended to kill Him with a cardiac arrest.

3. 1 In Paramananda Agama (2^(nd) Chapter, Verse 7-10), Paramashiva in form of Bhairava reveals the total number of Agamas in Hinduism for all Hindu Sampradayas (Sects) as - “ tव7 ते िभधा या म त 7ाणां गणनां ये॥ ट्सहTािण त 7ािण वैRणवा न महे र ॥७॥ शैवा न दशसाहTसं या न प रगtयते। शतसाहTसं या न शाKतत 7ािण वै पुनः ॥८॥ गणेश य सहTािण सौरािण @गुणा न तु। मद या न तु त 7ािण स तसाहTकािण वै ॥६॥ अ या न @सहTािण य भूता दसाधने। का न चBामला य7 स5ा ताण’वसं या

॥१०॥" Vaisnava Sampradaya - 6000 Agamas; Saiva Sampradaya - 10,000 Agamas; Shakta Sampradaya - 100,000 Agamas; Ganapatya Sampradaya - 1,000 Agamas; Saura Sampradaya - 2,000 Agamas; Bhairava Sampradaya - 7,000 Agamas, etc.

practicing Hinduism in its most authentic form deeply rooted in Vedas⁴ and Agamas⁵. These indigenous communities share several cultural, linguistic and religious similarities with Mesoamerican indigenous civilizations and several Canadian indigenous First Nation tribes and their whole identity has been grossly violated through disinformation about their lifestyle, culture, tradition, and their very existence over centuries⁶.

b. The Holocaust particularly of the indigenous communities of Hinduism is the biggest, longest ongoing genocide of over 80 million Hindus worldwide for 7 centuries and faces the double-pain of an outright denial by the main stream narratives prevalent in India and worldwide. This barbaric genocide of linguistic and religious minority groups, of dark-skinned human, of indigenous spiritual traditions⁷, and of ethnic minority tribes from Dravidian tribes in Sri Lanka⁸ to Kashmiri pundits⁹ in North India is a millennium-long tirade of unabated violence unleashed on the Indian subcontinent. The indigenous Hindu population, in general, and the Hindu Ādi Śaiva AIAT community, in particular, have been facing continuous persecution at the hands of several Hindumisic terrorists operating in the Indian subcontinent.

c. The Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism (“SPH”), Jagatguru Mahasannidhanam (“JGM”), His Divine Holiness (“HDH”) Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam is recognized as the living incarnation of Paramashiva as per Sanatana Hindu Dharma (“Hinduism”) and by His predecessors of enlightened masters and

4. 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas - the source scriptures of Hinduism that is unadulterated by modern imperialist interventions and consumerist dilutions

5. 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agama_(Hinduism)

6. 4 https://nctr.ca/records/reports/#trc-reports

“Centuries of history of discrimination, exploitation, dispossession, and colonization have led to the loss of traditional knowledge. Traditional knowledge is under threat and is being misused and misappropriated …Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge has been developed over generations through daily life practices and a close understanding of local environments. It can offer valuable responses to climate change, food insecurity, reducing inequalities and other challenges that we are trying to resolve”18th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)

7. https://youtu.be/HO6ZnU25pcc

8. http://www.tchr.net/pr_on_religious_freddom.pdf , https://sangam.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/TCHR_SriLanka_44-1.pdf

9. https://hinduexistence.org/2021/10/09/shaping-another-hindu-genocide-kashmiri-pandits-flee-valley-after-targeted-killings/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyy7yadFgfw

adepts¹⁰ and has been coronated as the emperor of 19 sovereign spiritual kingdoms¹¹.

d. The office of the Jagatguru Mahasannidhanam is similar to that of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism, or of the Pope in Catholic Christianity. In January 2015, a congregation of thousand Hindu leaders identified the SPH, the emperor of 19 ancient sovereign kingdoms of Hinduism¹² as Bhagavan Nithyananda Paramashivam and as an incarnation and elected Him as the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism¹³.

e. The SPH is the founder of the KAILASA¹⁴ nation - the First Nation for Hindus and the revival of the ancient enlightened civilizations of the 56 erstwhile Hindu nations which were home to over 10,000 sects and destroyed by invasions over the time from 3200 BCE. He has been recognized¹⁵ as the Sovereign of the Sovereign State of SHRIKAILASA¹⁶ by heads of states and spiritual leaders worldwide.

f. The revival of authentic Hinduism through the civilizational nation of KAILASA globally irked vested interests of Hindumisic forces who executed a massive persecution and genocide on SPH and His followers on 2 March 2010 that continued for the next whole decade spearheaded by massive hate propaganda in electronic media.

10. The SPH hails from the temple town of Tiruvannamalai which has nurtured millions of enlightened sages and incarnations and who have predicted His happening as incarnation of Paramashivaincluding Ramana Maharishi, Poondi Swamigal, Yogi Ramsuratkumar, the 68th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal, the 230th Gurumahasannidhanam of Thondaimandala Aadheenam Sri Thiruvambaladesika Jnanaprakasha Swamigal, Isakki Swamigal, Yogi Yogananda Puri, Narayanasami Pillai, Mouna Swami Narayanasami, Sri Sadhu Om Swamigal, Thinnai Swamigal, Tiruchy Mahaswamigal.

11. The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam has been coronated as the 1008th Acharya Mahamandaleshwar (the head for all spiritual leaders) of Atal Akhada (ancient apex body of Hinduism), Mahamandaleshwar (Supreme Spiritual Head) of Maha Nirvani Akhada (largest apex monastic order), 233rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of Thondai Mandala Aadheenam, 293rd Guru Mahasannidhanam (Pontiff) of Shyamalapeeta Sarvajnapeetam Madurai Adheenam, 23rd Guru Mahasannidhanam of Dharmamukthi Swargapuram Aadheenam, 203rd Emperor of Suryavamsa Surangi Samrajya Sarvajnapeetham, pontiff (spiritual and administrative head) of five ancient Adi Shaivite Mutts (monasteries) - Sri Arunachala Jnanadesikar Swami Temple & Mutt (Panchanadikulam, Vedaranyam), Sri Po.Ka. Sadhukkal Mutt, Vedaranyam, Sri Sankara Swami Mutt Thanjavur, Sri Palsamy Mutt Thanjavur, Sri Somanatha Swami Mutt and Temple, Thiruvarur ; successor of Bhagyanagara, Sripura Sarvajnapeetham; Gurumahasannidanam of Suryavamsa Chola Sarvajnapeeta - https://nithyanandapedia.org. Also founder of Ramakrishna Dhyanapeetham, Tiruchengode Aadheenam, Tamil Nadu; Adi Kailaasa Sarvajnapeetham, Bengaluru Aadheenam and multiple de facto spiritual embassies (Kailasas) worldwide

12. ibid

¹³https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/January_11_2015 , https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/January_12_2015 , https://nithyanandapedia.org/wiki/January_13_2015

14. The vision of KAILASA also includes uniting people of 700 indigenous nations from six continents under Uniting Nations of KAILASA, thus serving more than 2.3 billion indigenous people of the planet that comprise 25% of all mankind and have been the victims of the worst genocides, massacres, and persecution at the hands of Hindumisic forces

15. https://gov.shrikailasa.org/certificates-of-recognition/

¹⁶https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/559955544/the-sovereign-state-of-shrikailasa-the-first-nation-of-hindus-the-city-of-south-euclid-oh-sign-p

artnership-agreement

1. The case study highlights the impact of media misinformation and systematic smear campaigns on right to life and liberty of AIAT community on following counts:

a. Disinformation as a tool to target vulnerable group through fake news

b. Media Disinformation inducing Mob Lynching

c. Impact of Media Disinformation on Institutions and Judiciary

d. Media Disinformation on Indigenous Education - Its impact on language, identity and their Institutions

e. Media Disinformation affecting lives of AIAT Women and Children

1. Disinformation as a tool to target vulnerable group through fake news

I. The disinformation campaign against minorities relies on longstanding stereotypes and well-substantiated biases using the false narratives against various other religious leaders in the past. Since the last two centuries, legacy media houses have stereotyped hindu religious leaders especially framing them in sexual crimes or allegations against women starting from Maharaj Libel case against leaders of pushtimarg (1862)¹⁷, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (2002)¹⁸ Kanchi Sankaracharya (2006)¹⁹ as a precursor to impose racial hatred and divide amongst indigenous hindus.

II. On 2nd March 2010, SunTV - the politically owned atheist ‘fourth estate’ media house launched a well-planned multi-layer false hate propaganda by screening a deep fake video purporting to show The SPH with a well-known Indian film actress. The media houses sustained their disinformation campaign for nearly two years by repeated screening, leaving the broader public in a state of wilful ignorance, religious persecution and dehumanization of the AIAT community on religious persecution.

III. The deep fake video was proven to be fake by

A. In 2012, The Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Sun TV, the source of the deep fake video, gave a television interview accepting that the channel manufactured fake news to target the SPH. The deep state controlled television channels within a few hours ensured the television telecast of Hansraj Saxena confession was stopped and the media disinformation not allowed to come to public knowledge; a video recording of the telecast was however captured and is still available as video evidence²⁰.

¹⁷ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharaj_Libel_Case

¹⁸ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurmeet_Ram_Rahim_Singh#Rape_conviction

¹⁹ https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/prison-diaries-of-a-pontiff/226022

²⁰ 18 Dec 2012 - Jaya TV - Hansraj Saxena’s Statement - Jaya TV - https://youtu.be/YdLDypTvbBk

B. Later in 2014, he reiterated this statement in an affidavit to a US court²¹. Several such intentional crimes of media houses are brought to light in subsequent years²².

C. Forensic examinations by four independent international experts²³ have shown the video to be fabricated and created by superimposition and given over 60 technical points to prove the video was a morphed one

This systematic propagation of fake video created prejudice and erosion of public trust in the AIAT institutions, making AIAT community feel marginalised and more vulnerable to victimisation and discrimination.

1. Media Disinformation inducing Mob Lynching

A. Last decade, India has seen a similar rise in communal violence instigated through information communication and technology through various providers. In the case of the AIAT community, misinformation through deep fake defamatory video using legacy media was used as early as 2010, character assassinating the SPH through defamatory content spread virally on legacy media for 17500 hours.Through the systematic, strategic and consistent disinformation by hindumesic elements, mass hysteria was whipped up, therefore creating a socio-psychlogical pressure on the police to arrest SPH, on falsely created charges of rape, where there was no victim. The FIR did not have the word rape in it nor was there any victim in the FIR.²⁴

B. Due to hate speech incited by the defamation campaigns in the media, The SPH was chased by the mob for over 2800 km²⁵ to assassinate him. The disinformation heightened with baseless accusations against the SPH and AIAT such as possession of skin of endangered animals²⁶, possessing low grade fuel

²¹ US District Court, Central District of California, Case 5:13-cv-00393-VAP (SPx), document 156-3, 3 Nov 2014, Declaration of Dharmaraja Hansraj Saxena

22

https://www.drishtiias.com/pdf/1584990847-the-problem-of-fake-news-in-india-issues-concerns-and-regulation.p df

²³ https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Reports-of-forensic-experts-on-fabricate-video-of-2010.pdf

²⁴ 9 Sep 2010 , Deccan Herald – Potency test is a legal nonsense: Expert – “Medical examination of the accused in a case of rape is mandatory under Section 53 (a) of CrPC. When he (the SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam) was arrested, this examination could not be conducted as there was no victim then", Karnataka State Police CID. https://www.deccanherald.com/content/429841/potency-test-legal-nonsense-expert.html

²⁵ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=158973390037719&set=a.158223670112691

²⁶ https://www.ndtv.com/cities/seized-tiger-pelt-could-spell-more-trouble-for-sex-swami-416346

illegally²⁷, character assassination of the SPH²⁸ shaming his gender identity²⁹, alleging international economic fraud³⁰ though the SPH does not have a personal bank account or any personal savings, forgery³¹, trolls and hate speech targeting the SPH as womanizer³² and AIAT women alleging prostitution and sex rackets against them, using derogatory labels like ‘tainted godman’, ‘self-styled godman’ and other demeaning labels in local languages³³ against the SPH. The legacy media covered inflammatory speeches by paid mobs demanding the assassination of the SPH and attacks on his followers inciting violence and terror. Such demonstrations in Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Hosur were reported in the media³⁴.

C. Within a few hours of the viral spread of a fake defamatory video on SPH, mobs chased the SPH in more than fifty AIAT temples and monasteries in different cities in India inciting cultural hatred and discrimination.This was followed by desecration of AIAT Hindu deities, sexual assault and rape of indigenous minority women. The legacy media spread misinformation that the Porasapalayam AIAT Ayurvedic Hospital and Temple near Namakkal, Tamil Nadu was set on fire while in fact the hospital was found to be perfectly safe.

D. Several notable crimes including mob lynch in north eastern exodus (2012)³⁵, Muzaffarnagar (2013)³⁶ were orchestrated and instigated through misinformation spread through digital means. In 2017, With 200 million active users of WhatsApp provider in India, a series of online misinformation was spread about child kidnappers in the various villages in Jharkand³⁷ ³⁸.leading to series of lynching of

²⁷ https://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/bidadi-ashram-kerosene-row-787 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75735/nityananda-trouble-using-kerosene-penance.html

²⁸ https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Hate_Speech_Against_AIAT_2010-11_Master_Ledger.pdf

²⁹ http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_paramahamsa-nithyananda-is-a-man-after-all_1379652

30 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/62640/cid-digs-swamis-fund-sources.html http://www.deccanherald.com/content/56453/tamil-nadu-police-get-pro.html http://www.deccanherald.com/content/67041/devotees-millions-diverted-nithyananda-account.html http://www.deccanherald.com/content/67215/godman-us-hedge-fund-promoter.html

³¹ http://www.deccanherald.com/content/59977/nithyananda-may-have-forged-birth.html

³² http://expressbuzz.com/topic/%E2%80%98swamiji-had-condoms-liquor-in-bidadi-ashram/229329.html http://expressbuzz.com/topic/swamiji-forced-me-to-get-intimate/229034.html http://expressbuzz.com/topic/he-convinced-devotee-to-partake-in-divine-act/227651.html

33

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToPrint_MIRRORNEW&Type=text/html&Locale=english- skin-custom&Path=BGMIR/2010/03/05&ID=Ar00800

³⁴ ibid

³⁵https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337414963_Migration_from_North_Eastern_Region_to_Bangalore_Ev

idences_from_Census_Data

³⁶https://www.thequint.com/news/india/muzaffarnagar-riots-shahnawaz-death-mohammad-salim-gaurav-sachin-c

ase

³⁷ https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lynched-by-mob-in-jharkhand-over-kidnap-rumours-4664595/

³⁸ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_WhatsApp_lynchings

innocent travellers. Purposeful distortion of facts and misinformation was spread through social media platforms alleging child kidnappers or cow killers³⁹ were present as a result of which destruction of public property and communal tension intensified. Similar misinformation was virally spread by the deep state elements against minority groups and Hindu monks about two innocent Hindu monks as thieves leading to mob lynching of them in Palghar⁴⁰. Recent attacks in Bangladesh by a mob instigated by misinformation on desecration of Quran in Durga Pandals lynching minority hindus shook the Hindu diaspora⁴¹. The regulatory authorities must take in consideration of cultural and institutional factors regarding censorship and technocentric approach to address this instigated violence against indigenous communities.

1. Impact of Media Misinformation on Institutions and Judiciary

a. Article 10 of the UDHR states as follows “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.” and Article 11 of UDHR provides that “Everyone charged with a penal offense has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.”

b. However, media disinformation is weaponized against indigenous religious leaders and minority groups to paint widespread perception of guilt irrespective of the outcome of the trial and cater to the vested interests adversely affecting the adjudication, interpretation and protection of the fundamental rights of individuals for fair trial. Disinformation and misinformation were used as a weapon against the SPH. The deep fake video was used by the Hindumesic mass media houses and social media to generate 17500 hours of diatribe and hate speech that was used to trigger the lawfare and justify the illegal arrest of the SPH on false charges.

c. Defamation campaign through legacy media is likely to have a prejudicial impact on the suspects, accused, witnesses and even Judges and in general, on the administration of justice. In the case of John D. Pennekamp v. State of Florida⁴²Justice Frankfurter quotes “No Judge fit to be one is likely to be

³⁹ https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/04/03/jharkhand-gau-rakshaks-latehar-muslims-ngos.html

⁴⁰ https://www.ndtv.com/blog/facts-vs-narrative-reporters-vs-social-media-in-palghar-lynching-2220754

⁴¹https://theprint.in/world/those-who-vandalised-durga-puja-pandals-in-bangladesh-will-be-hunted-down-says-pm

-hasina/751065/

⁴² https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/328/331/

influenced consciously, except by what he sees or hears in Court and by what is judicially appropriate for his deliberations. However, Judges are also human and we know better than did our forebears how powerful is the pull of the unconscious and how treacherous the rational process”. The media have an obligation to respect the rights of individuals, protected by the International Covenant and the independence of the judiciary”⁴³,⁴⁴.

d. With respect to false case (2010) filed against the SPH due to media disinformation, High Court cited “apprehension of the petitioner is unfounded⁴⁵, saying that there was no basis on which The SPH could be arrested so He did not need bail⁴⁶, yet he was arrested and kept in custody for 53 days. The police solicited ‘victims’⁴⁷ and subjected the SPH to physical and mental torture⁴⁸ social shame, inspite of there being no rape victim. The State police submitted to the High Court of Karnataka that 48 witnesses were examined⁴⁹ but no evidence was found against The SPH for any crime whatsoever. The Court observed “How many days will you mentally torture a person⁵⁰” and expressed its concern over the lack of due legal process⁵¹ and subsequently granted bail to SPH.

e. In 2010, the AIAT community also suffered from illegal economic sanctions fuelled due to media disinformation where police unlawfully sent letters to freeze the bank accounts of the public charitable Trusts that are spiritually guided by him, making the indigenious AIAT community struggle for food and basic amenities. Several community members were displaced due to starvation.

f. In 2012, the SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam, due to misinformation spread by paid legacy media, the Chief Minister of Karnataka said, “We do not encourage such immoral people in Karnataka, and I am going to make an example out of Nithyananda”⁵², ordering an arbitrary and illegal arrest of the SPH, going to the extent of claiming that he was ready to face jail term but would not stop targeting

43 https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/1994/01/madrid-principles-on-media-and-judicial-independence-publication-1994-eng.pdf

⁴⁴ Reliance Petrochemicals v. Proprietor of Indian Express : 1988(4) SCC

⁴⁵ https://www.deccanherald.com/content/60078/hc-rejects-nithyananda-advance-bail.html

⁴⁶ 25 March 2010 - https://www.deccanherald.com/content/60078/hc-rejects-nithyananda-advance-bail.html

⁴⁷ https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/CID_Call_for_Victims.pdf

48 https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Media_Disinformation_Around_2010_Interrogation_of_SPH_updated.pdf

⁴⁹ Memo of status report, submitted by the Karnataka State Police to the Karnataka State High Court in Crl.P.2328,2329,2344 of 2010, dated 11 June 2010

https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/2010-06-11_no-evidence-48-witnesses-memo-certified_1.jpg

⁵⁰ https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=86153

51 https://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-karnataka-high-court-pulls-up-cid-officer-in-nithyananda-case-1441373 https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-high-court-seeks-case-diary-in-nithyananda-case-1437430

⁵² 16 Jun 2012, India Today,

indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20120625-nithyananda-surrenders-in-court-sent-to-custody-758791-2012-06-16

The SPH⁵³. The SPH, being the Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, is recognized as a regional king⁵⁴ and had sovereign immunity from arrests and appearances in the court⁵⁵ as per tradition which was upheld by colonial-era laws still applicable in India. The Chief Minister arbitrarily ordered the arrest of the SPH. The hate propaganda by politically owned Hindumesic media normalized⁵⁶ the society and there continues to be widespread prejudice against the SPH and the AIAT community even today.

2. Media Disinformation destroying Indigenous Education - language, identity and their Institutions

a. Intellectual genocide of indigenous knowledge is accomplished by ‘civilizing’ the knowledge systems and religious beliefs of indigenous and aboriginal traditions through media disinformation to forcibly align to majoritarianism. The education system is manipulated with a curriculum that is designed to systematically subjugate and eliminate the identity, culture, tradition, language, and knowledge of indigenous people by teaching fabricated history, instilling a sense of self-hate and inferiority complex in the minds of children of the community resulting in an identity crisis along with the loss of pride and self-respect from the media disinformation consistently and widely spread as was done in Hitler’s regime⁵⁷.

b. The British Colonial Power introduced a state system of education in India for the first time through the Charter Act of 1813 completely replacing the Gurukul (Indigenous Hindu) Education⁵⁸. The Act spread malicious disinformation that the native sciences are unscientific and declared the literature, history, metaphysics, and theology of hinduism to be “absurd”⁵⁹ while the impact of indigenous Hindu

⁵³ 15 Jun 2012, Times Of India, Sadananda takes on Nithyananda says he is ready to face jail term

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/sadananda-takes-on-nityananda-says-he-is-ready-to-face-jail-term/articleshow/14148461.cms

⁵⁴ Viceroy and Governor General’s letter dated 3 Jan 1893, To Saiva Samayyachariyar, Thirugnanasambhandha Pandara Sannathi Head of the Madura Saiva Samaya Chariar Thirugnana Sambhadha Disika Swami Adhina Mattam in Madras. “I Hereby Confer Upon you The Title of ‘RAO BAHADUR’ as a personal Distinction.” ம ைர ஆதªன வரலா – History of Madurai Aadheenam - drive.google.com/file/d/1ZsfdTQkOXPWQAJxBmWKmpOn6WZJtecFu/view

⁵⁵ Judicial Department proceedings of Madras Government, Letters from the Collector of Madura, dated 4 Sep. 1880; No. 2712; order thereon 15 Sep 1880, No. 2240, "Under Section 641 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the Governor-in-Council is pleased

to exempt Saiva Samayachariar Tirugnana Sambanda Pandara Sannadhi Avergal, the Saiva High Priest of Madurai from personal appearance in the Courts of the Presidency." G. Stokes (For Chief Secretary) – ம ைர ஆதªன வரலா – History of Madurai Aadheenam - drive.google.com/file/d/1ZsfdTQkOXPWQAJxBmWKmpOn6WZJtecFu/view

⁵⁶ IAGS Volume 12, Issue 1, Article 6 - Cold Genocide: Falun Gong in China , https://doi.org/10.5038/1911-9933.12.1.1513 - “In cold genocides, the atrocities against the victim group are normalized. Normalization means weaving genocide into the fabric of society. Normalization comes from hegemony, a mode of political domination through ideology rather than force.”

57. Schooling system and public institutions subverted to “normalize” internal oppression and systematic violence and ideas of a racially superior “Aryan” race systematically disseminated using the education system that justified the most inhuman tortures in history

58. Charter Act of 1813 completely replacing the Gurukul (Indigenous Hindu) Education

⁵⁹ https://www.jstor.org/stable/4027833

knowledge and education system has been appreciated by several Nobel laureates and world leaders of thought⁶⁰. Macaulayism has resulted in cultural and intellectual genocide of Aboriginal Indigenous Agricultural Tribes such as the Ādi Śaiva Vēḷāḷars.

c. Since 1970’s, continuing the legacy of colonialists, the deep state elements in State Educational institutions in India further targeted indigenous education by injecting hate and false propaganda denigrating and vilifying indigenous ideologies as superstitious in government school syllabus, with the intention to de-indigenize and pressurize the indigenous children as victims of conversion campaigns.

d. Over the last two centuries, the ancient language was ruthlessly savaged, its knowledge treasure was plundered, misrepresented and abused by several western orientalists and dravidian forerunners. These mistranslated texts dissipated as a major setback for the modern Hindu youth to develop hatred, prejudice, and disown their Hindu identity and culture. The SPH played a role in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding, and playing an integral role in the development of strengthening world peace through the union of translation through authentic translation of vedic texts and helped in reclaiming the unapologetic authentic Hindu Identity within the Hindu diaspora through various initiatives. In June 2010, due to misinformation that was incited by the paid legacy media, SPH was even prohibited from talking about anything in public, including prohibiting him to give religious discourses.⁶¹ against the right to freedom of speech and expression and right to religious freedom and his responsibility as sph.

e. Similar to the brutal ethnocide of children of residential school in Canada⁶², Branches of the Nithyananda Gurukul, school where the children are trained to head apex religious institutions of the indigenous communities were heavily targeted with lawfare and violent attacks by Hindumisic elements:

i. to forcibly shut down the indigenous schools and eliminate the educators⁶³

60 Werner Heisenberg, Erwin Schrödinger, Albert Einstein, George Oppenheimer

⁶¹ (i) Crl.P. No. 2329/2010 C/W Crl.P. No 2344/2010 & 2329/2010 dated 11 June 2010 in High Court of Karnataka https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHF1D_CwoWb5bCRUrvsSKVvBjDDhoTVU/view (ii) www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2010/jun/12/bail-okay-but-no-preaching-nithyananda-told-122819.html

⁶² https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57592243

⁶³ 2010 Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu - 3 March 2010 - Tamil Murasu - Page 1 - Chennai edition - “Nithyananda Thalaimarivu” ; Salem - (i) 8 March 2010 - Dina Malar, Chennai - Page 2 - “Nithyananda Ashramathil Irunda” (ii) 4 March 2010 Dinakaran - Page 4,15; Namakkal - 4 March 2010 - Dina Mani - Page 2

2012 Bangalore, Karnataka - 11 Jun 2012, Newsx Video Clip, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3blhMe1CIE4 ; 11 Jun 2012 , The Hindu, Karnataka, www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-chief-minister-orders-arrest-of-nithyananda/article3515274.ece

ii. through lawfare against the teachers and legal counsel of the indigenous school⁶⁴

iii. attempts to intimidate⁶⁵, harass⁶⁶ and shame⁶⁷ the indigenous children

iv. attempts to eliminate the child monks (balasants) who are trained from a young age to be successors⁶⁸ of the indigenous kingdoms like Lamas in Buddhist tradition

f. 16 Oct 2013, in a politically owned neo-Hindutva newspaper, named Indian Express, it was published that the Karnataka State Child Welfare Commission Officer said, “We found the children brilliant”. However, the Officer falsely claimed, “But they are not receiving formal education. They (the ashram) do not have accreditation from any government agency, they do not follow the law of the land and do not have an authentic syllabus for the children.” Several other deep state owned newspapers such as the Deccan Herald also spread misinformation and justified the legal terrorism by falsely accusing the traditional school of child rights violation whereas, in reality, the state persecuted the children and their

2014 Bangalore, Karnataka (i) http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Uttarahalli_monastery_attack_tv_13_01_2014.png (ii) http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Uttarahalli_monastery_attack_victim_13_01_2014.png

⁶⁴ 2014 Karnataka - http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Karnataka_State_minister_ education_gurukul_shutdown_14-Feb-2014.png ,

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/teacherfriendly-transfers-in-the-offing-ratnakar/article5685916.ece

2010 Puducherry - FIR 90/2010, 5 Mar 2010, PS Orleanpet, Puducherry drive.google.com/file/d/10KdMcma1te-Hu5HmrerUltiR4iTL8mue/view 2010 Sriperumbudur , Tamil Nadu - District Magistrate, Sriperumbudur, Chennai

2010 Crl. O. P No.12783 of 2010, Coimbatore -

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Swami-Nityananda-arrested-in-Solan/articleshow_new/5841947.cms http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/nithyananda-ashram-in-child-rights-row/1174496/ - harassment and intimidation of indigenous students, teachers and parents to force shutdown of indigenous school

Lawfare against the legal counsel of indigenous school - FIR 340/2013 Bidadi PS on the date 19 September 2013

65 https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/city-others/nithyananda-ashram-produces-88-students-before-child-welfare-panel/ https://www.deccanherald.com/content/367261/nithyananda-ashram-scanner-child-rights.html http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/DWC_officer_tv_announced_plans_08-Feb-2014.png http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Karnataka_State_Police_Notice_Gurukul_13-Feb-2014.png

⁶⁶ http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/CWC_show_cause_notice_17-Sep-2013.png

http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/DoWC_harassment_visit_17-Sep-2014.png

67 http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Kannada_language_tv_news_channel_tv9_15-Oct-2013.png http://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/gurukul/Writ_Petition_WP_8805-2013_END_RED_WP-8830-873-Edexcel-IGCSE-2014-p4.png

68 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeRtmcwo39Q - attempt on the life of a balasant who is both the ‘Karuvazhi Varisu’ (successor as per bloodline) and ‘Guruvazhi Varisu’ (successor as per the religious Master-disciple monastic order) of the SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam whose family (https://kailasapedia.org/thumb.php?f=Family_tree_of_sph.jpeg&width=600) traditionally used to head the Thondaimandala Aadheenam but political influence was used by the State Finance Minister PTRP Thiyagarajan along with his brother PTRK Vijayarajan (Head of the State appointed Advisory Committee) to illegally oust the SPH who was the 233^(rd) pontiff of the spiritual kingdom of Thondaimandala Aadheenam

parents using vexatious proceedings.⁶⁹ The claims of the Karnataka State CWC were malicious, vindictive, and completely counterfactual. The fact that the education was not as per one of the secular state education systems and the fact that as per Right To Education (R.T.E.) Act Section-1(5) - Vedic Pathashalas (Indigenous, religious, traditional Hindu schools) are exempt from the purview of the RTE Act, it simply meant that the CWC had no jurisdiction or rights in interfering with the school.

g. In 2013, the Karnataka State Department of Women and Children forcibly, cruelly, and illegally interrogated children in the ASMT school (Gurukul). The interrogation was done without the consent of the parents, with no video recording of the examiners, late-night beyond¹²⁷ the time permissible by law¹²⁸. The State interrogators shamed and ridiculed the children, particularly girls for their dress, pressured them to quit their spiritual-religious lifestyle, and forced children to eat unhealthy substances avoided in the ASMT lifestyle. The lawyer of the school was sued by the State for intervening in the violation of the rights of children and parents.¹²⁹ Several such raids were done by the State and many vexatious legal proceedings and orders were executed by the State to forcibly shut down the school. Such detribalization amounts to suppression of freedom of thought and expression and can become a form of intersectional discrimination against minority women who choose to practice their traditions¹³⁰. Tribal and indigenous girls should be protected from such persecution by the State as highlighted in this report regarding wearing traditional dress, flowers in hair, bindi¹³¹, vermillion, sacred-ash, veil, etc.

h. Girl children of the AIAT were targeted in the indigenous traditional school and attacked physically⁷⁰, shamed⁷¹, shown pornographic material⁷². The teachers and administrators were illegally arrested on false and subjected to torture and imprisoned for 3 months and forced to live on the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic¹⁰⁸.The right of indigenous peoples to education is protected by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which in Article 14 states that “Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning.” Despite various

⁶⁹ 6 Nov 2013, Deccan Herald, “Nithyananda ashram under scanner for child rights violation”

https://www.deccanherald.com/content/367261/nithyananda-ashram-scanner-child-rights.html

70. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/karni-sena-leader-booked-for-rioting-assault-on-women-6490411/

71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J0aT4ZfT04

72. ttps://indiankanoon.org/doc/74023602/

international laws, constitutional principles⁷³ the deep state elements targeted the AIAT school using lawfare, illegal arrests of its facilitators, administrators and educators, threatening the children to adopt mainstream education through sexual intimidation and cyber bullying.

1. Media Disinformation on Indigenous Women and Children

a. Indigenous aboriginal traditions of Hinduism worship women from infancy as a manifestation of Devi Parashakti⁷⁴ (supreme primordial cosmic divinity) rather than treating as a mere equal to men. In such minority traditions, some young girls called Rudrakanyas (Daughters of Lord Rudra) and Devadasis⁷⁵, who cognise themselves as a manifestation of Divine Mother, chose to never marry any human and dedicated themselves to the administration of Hindu temples and worship of the Deity (or God) of the temple.

b. Indigenous women and children are subjected to femicide⁷⁶, rape, sexual violence, gender-based harassment, and female infanticide and weaponized as a part of more pervasive and systematic campaign targeting certain indigenous spiritual traditions, minority communities, and their leaders. The AIAT tradition carrying one of the most progressive ideologies⁷⁷ freely ordains women into Sannyasa (the monastic order), recognizes 11 genders⁷⁸, and performs specific temple rituals for gay marriage, as per more than 5000-year-old indigenous spiritual scriptures. The Hindumisic elements hated Hindu women in monastic and priestly roles and see LGBTQ+ rights as immoral.

c. Indigenous women of the AIAT community are subjected to several barriers, challenges, and threats in exercising their freedom of opinion and expression online and offline undermining their freedom of religion and belief¹¹⁵ through

73. Article 26, 29, 30 of the Indian Constitution, Right to Education Act - https://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/33.pdf

74. एवं यः पज

येददेfव fतवष यत तः ।ष मास वा f मास वा मासे मासेऽथवा f ये ॥ ३७ ।।fत ो वा पеचषा सTत पज

येदेवताfधया ।सव'еवयसमदृ धा मा स भवदावयोः f यः ॥ ३८

॥ O My Beloved ! One who either every year or every six months, or every three months or every month worships three, five or seven young ladies or girls treating them as Devatās, obtains all splendours and also becomes a favourite of both of Us. Kularnava tantra, 10^(th) Ullasa, Verse

37-38, https://archive.org/details/Kularnava/mode/2up

75. https://unframed.lacma.org/2013/05/15/devadasi-the-eternal-dancer

76. https://unframed.lacma.org/2013/05/15/devadasi-the-eternal-dancer

77. https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Women/SR/Femicide/2021-submissions/CSOs/india-kailash-union.pdf

78. https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/CEDAW/DGD24June2021/51.docx

i. Image morphing⁷⁹ deepfake⁸⁰ technology to publicly shame women and girls⁸¹

ii. Illegal arrests⁸² and lawfare⁸³ on indigenous women leaders

iii. Shaming of child rape victims by media

iv. Intersectional sexual abuse⁸⁴ of socially challenged indigenous women

v. Shaming and sexual objectification⁸⁵ of women and girls by media

vi. Shaming of Hindu female monks for expressing their disciplehood⁸⁶ as a father daughter relationship with the SPH

1. Media Disinformation and Forced Displacements

In 2018, the international community has witnessed a record high of almost 70.8 million individuals including refugees, stateless people, asylum-seekers and people affected due to internal conflicts were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations ⁸⁷. Media disinformation, affecting the

79. scroll.in/latest/877007/network-of-women-in-media-demands-immediate-end-to-online-vilification-of-journalist-rana-ayyub https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1043431/

80. Kietzmann, J.; Lee, L. W.; McCarthy, I. P.; Kietzmann, T. C. (2020). "Deepfakes: Trick or treat?". Business Horizons. 63 (2): 135–146. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2019.11.006

81. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1087412

theprint.in/world/uks-communications-regulator-imposes-20000-fine-on-republic-bharat-for-hate-speech/572131/

https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/explained-why-fake-news-misinformation-around-women-more-than-men

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2013/sep/03/Channel-ordered-to-apologise-to-Ranjitha-512987.html ; https://www.deccanherald.com/content/355108/bccc-tells-channel-apologise-airing.html

82

https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/article/ahmedabad-police-tighten-noose-on-godman-nithyananda-over-missing-minors-tw o-aides-arrested/517938 , Swamy Nithyananda’s two disciples arrested in Ahmedabad ashram - The Hindu

83 FIR 300/2012, Bidadi PS, Ramanagara, Karnataka, https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/CC233-2020-FIR300-2012-MaJnanatmaSwami.pdf

⁸⁴ 9 May 2010 https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ETDbGI0PhJ-Wz2n6bYlOjG6xBu79fWJv In the above magazine link, Charu Nivedita asked the following obscene questions openly addressing monks and members of the AIAT community in his article: “I would like to ask, to those like the head of Tamil publication dept. Supriya and actress Ragasudha: Did you sign Nithyananda’s sex agreement after reading it? Did he have the above said tantric sex with you? https://youtu.be/BHf5h0KtIIc

FIR 587/15, Tiruvarur Town PS, 27/Oct/2015 https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/CC37-2015_FIR587-2015_MaJyotikaSwami.pdf https://youtu.be/BHf5h0KtIIc

85 ZMCL to Lakshmi Malladi dated 25 Oct 2017, drive.google.com/file/d/1loqzwnyv674XYVWqkX9EReCnKt7ygvlH/view, in reply to NBSA complaint to Guru Ghantaal Zee News - http://youtu.be/AmDr3wb7FPk

86 news18.com/news/india/govt-appeases-sadhus-by-allowing-gurus-name-instead-of-parents-in-passport-1326843.html

⁸⁷ https://www.unhcr.org/5d08d7ee7.pdf

physical psy/chological and ideological framework of persecuted minority groups, plays an important role in community displacement.

The SPH was pushed into de jure statelessness.⁸⁸ in 2018 where his renewal of passport was denied⁸⁹. This was despite multiple court orders, against a similar suspension of passport done by the deep state elements in the government in April 2010 and eventually revoked in August 2010. The Supreme Court of India in Suresh Nanda vs

C.B.I says “In our opinion, even the Court cannot impound a passport⁹⁰” International law also has the Article 13 of The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights⁹¹ saying, “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State, the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.” This denial of justice and fundamental rights was glorified by the media through continued disinformation as the Hindimusic forces illegally disenfranchised the SPH of his rights. This forced SPH and the indigenious AIAT community to displace themselves away from the land where they belong. Similar forced displacements are recorded in the history of minority ethnic groups including Srilankan Tamils and Kashmiri Pandits. The weaponization and politicization⁹² of mainstream media and social media suppresses freedom of religion of the indigenous minority communities and acts as a grave threat to communal harmony⁹³ forcing these communities to displace the plight of the right to life and liberty. The International bodies must outline an ideal response framework addressing the needs to mitigate ideological and religious persecution strengthened due to media disinformation about ethnic indegenious minorities.

1. These orchestrated sophisticated disinformation campaigns that affect public trust in traditional minority faith and its tradition in India. These smear campaigns using technology dismantle the fairness and credibility of information and have far-reaching consequences causing identity crises of targeted victims, polarizing communities against certain faith, undermining democracy and freedom of opinion and expression. In the case of AIAT community, despite the court order⁹⁴USA to bring down this defamatory misinformation, legacy media did not comply and the community suffered from irreparable psychological, ideological and physical damage.

⁸⁸ Luingam Luithui And Ors vs Union Of India And Ors on 23 August, 2017 https://indiankanoon.org/doc/51490658/ describes conditions of de facto statelessness and concluding it at point#21.

⁸⁹ https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/2018-Aug-24_illegal_mea_notice_without_even_signature.jpg

⁹⁰ https://www.saveindianfamily.org/police-and-court-cannot-seize-passport/ ) ; Maneka Gandhi Vs Union of India says, “Right to travel abroad is guaranteed under Article 21.”

https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/maneka-gandhi-case-1978-sc-judgements/

⁹¹ https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/

92 Politics of India Media Houses https://vikrammalla.medium.com/the-politics-of-indian-media-houses-by-ownership-82ecbe2dafab

93 Can we really trust our Media https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-can-we-really-trust-our-media/363037

⁹⁴ Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of New York vs Nithyananda Fraud in the Supreme Court of New York

2. a) What are the legal, policy and practical challenges faced by States, companies, media and civil society organizations in upholding freedom of opinion and expression while countering hate speech, disinformation or other forms of information manipulation in situations of conflict and disturbances?

b) Where do you see major legal and policy gaps or inconsistencies on these issues? Please share your thoughts on how they could be best addressed.

In India, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, imposes several restrictions to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist in investigations and iis well within the scope of the IT Act. IT Rules seek to prevent the misuse of the freedom of press by empowering the audience with a mechanism to raise their grievances related to the content being published by the digital news publishers through a grievance redressal mechanism with an emphasis on the self-regulatory architecture for digital news agencies. The companies and press agencies perceive this rule that imposes oversight of the government and a Code of Ethics' violating Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution curbing freedom of expression.This could be resolved through introducing information watchdogs focussed on spreading and educating informed data to the masses.

4. a) How do internet intermediaries address:

- Propaganda for war;

- Incitement to violence, discrimination or hatred

- Disinformation and misinformation that instigates or aggravates violence, instability or conflicts

The content being carried on OTT platforms today needs more regulation. One example is a defamatory series against the AIAT⁹⁵ where the content is not being strictly held to the laws of copyright and possible fair-use categories of "parody", "criticism", “documentary”, “true crime”or "remark" confirmed by precedence set by multiple US court judgments⁹⁶ ⁹⁷ ⁹⁸ and violation of the Indian laws as per CHAPTER XI, Infringement of Copyright, Section 51(b) (i) and (ii) of Indian Copyright Law 1957. The disinformation includes distortion of the indigenous religious scriptures and indigenous sciences and direct violation and contempt of the acts of racial discrimination against which protections and obligations by the State Parties are enshrined in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, UN General Assembly resolution 2106, 21 December 1965.

⁹⁵ https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Media_Disinformation_in_the_age_of_OTT_Platforms.pdf

⁹⁶ Harper & Row v. Nation Enters., 471 U.S. 539 (1985)

97 Roy Export Co. Estab. of Vaduz v. Columbia Broadcasting Sys., Inc., 672 F.2d 1095, 1100 (2d Cir. 1982),

⁹⁸ Los Angeles News Service v. KCAL-TV Channel 9, 108 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir. 1997)

Article 19 of the Constitution Of India protects rights regarding freedom of speech but at the same time does not prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offense. Hindumisic militants have used such hate speech to and justify violence after reading or watching such material⁹⁹.

The misinformation campaign by Discovery+ India in this case was not merely limited to incitement of hatred but is inclining to incitement to genocide against the AdiShaiva Vellalar minority aboriginal indigenous agricultural tribes, leading to their persecution. Direct and public incitement to commit genocide is forbidden by the Genocide Convention (1948), Article 3(c) and an international crime. Internationally the incitement to genocide is classified as an “inchoate crime” where proof of result is not necessary for the crime to have been committed, only that it had the potential to spur genocidal violence. Yet the OTT platforms refuse to delete the content that has the following impact on the minority community through

a. media disinformation¹⁰⁰ campaign on their leaders¹⁰¹, faith¹⁰², divinity¹⁰³, religious institutions¹⁰⁴ or principles using compromised media.

b. Incite public violence against the community¹⁰⁵

⁹⁹ Perpetrators of such crimes have directly commented on the online versions of such hate speech openly accepting that they have “hit nithyananda people”, and also suggesting others should do the same by saying, “I request everyone to hit them nicely. Even don't show courtesy for women in nithyanandha ashram. They are the most dangerous.” (Refer Profile with the name Parthasarathy J (The Rock) commented (comment id: UgzPVRI09bZwNd_IaUF4AaABAg ), "I have hit one nithyanandha people when they try to encourage near pallavaram. I request everyone to hit them nicely. Even don't show courtesy for women in nithyanandha ashram. They are the most dangerous" in the video https://youtu.be/eRIYu2xguG8 ). This clearly shows how such hate speech and misinformation is directly causing harm to the life and dignity as a person towards the disciples and devotees of temples of the Nithyananda Sangha (spiritual fraternity). And therefore attracts Section 95 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as such unlawful acts are punishable under Section 124A or Section 153A or Section 153B or Section 292 or Section 293 or Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code

100 https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Expression/disinformation/2-Civil-society-organisations/Nithyanandeshwara-Hindu-Temple.pdf

101 Media Disinformation In India For The UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Expression/disinformation/2-Civil-society-organisations/Nithyanandeshwara-Hind u-Temple.pdf

102 Anti Superstition law is anti hindu, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/antisuperstition-bill-is-antihindu/article8456935.ece

103 Importance of protecting guru, https://rajivmalhotra.com/library/articles/importance-protecting-gurus/

Vairamuthu, a celebrity lyricist quotes hindu goddess Andal as prostitute,https://www.pgurus.com/vairamuthu-and-his-lies-exposed/

104 Sabarimala verdict is judicial overreach,

https://theprint.in/opinion/sabarimala-temple-ruling-distances-courts-from-indians-steeped-in-tradition/127954/

Government controlling Hindu Temples Questioned,

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/govt-control-of-hindu-temples-questioned/article4916982.ece

105 TV9 Gujarati, Nov 17, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGF4CQSpnLY, at 1:53 to 2:20, Rahul Ranjput (head of Yuva Karni Army) said, “Everyone knows Karni Sena(Army) very well. Right now, we are working with the State government. Right now, we are following the path of Gandhi (peace). But it is not far when we become violent, if we do not get our Nanditha in front of us. Else if required we will even burn the monastery, but if we are disappointed with this experience, we will break in (the female monastery), and after that whatever happens, for that only the government will be responsible.” The neo-Hindutva media interviewer in response, “Precisely. Thank you so much Rahul Rajput for talking to TV9 Gujarati.”

c. false legal charges brought with presumption of guilty until proven innocent .

The adjudication of complaints by users on the platform is not transparent and arbitrary. Except in the case of copyright and trademark violations, the platforms have been ineffective in stemming the rise of abuse of women, children of especially persecuted communities like AIAT. OTT platforms are now weaponised to air defamatory shows destroying credibility of indigenous traditions as cult inciting subjudice, hate, racism and cultural and ideological genocide of the minority traditions¹⁰⁶.

b) In your view are the companies’ policies and measures in line with international human rights and humanitarian law standards, and are they being implemented effectively?

c) What improvements would you suggest?

d) What good practices have been developed by companies?

The commercial model of the social media companies involves facilitating the advertisers with AI based data capture, data mining and behavioral data has seen severe compromise in democracy and free speech where the market is driven in favor of the vested interest of the investors in the respective companies. This trend has serious implications in maintaining peace and harmony, jeoperdizng the right to liberty and life in civil societies, especially in India that is subjected to several civil movements and mob lynches exploiting the business models adopted by social media companies. Several indigenous communities including the attack against the female monks of Yogini Sarvajnapeetha (YSJP) community suffered mob lynch¹⁰⁷ due to spread of misinformation and hate speech due to highly optimized ads by the radical groups targeting and reinforcing, echoing certain misinformation about minority communities in India. These business models without accountability decrease respect both for human dignity, expression of freedom and for fact and evidence based societal dialogue in the community. In 2020, several hundred social media profiles of AIAT community members were deleted with no warning or communication of grounds adversely affecting the right to freedom of expression. Similar such instances were observed during the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) movement compromising citizen based journalism¹⁰⁸. Such lack of transparency and authoritative decision making processes by these companies while removing user profiles or content further diminish trust, faith and the common ground on which societies are built. A study conducted by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018 concluded that falsehood diffused significantly farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth¹⁰⁹. The companies must adopt regulatory

106 Writ Appeal at the High Court of Allahabad for producing and spreading disinformation on Guru Tradition, Writ c 16920 of 2022

¹⁰⁷ https://www.gujaratheadline.com/71029-2/

108

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/freedom-of-expression-under-threat-in-india-say-rights-activists-in- us-33026

¹⁰⁹ https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308

policies and responsible journalism based commercial models to uphold the spirit, right to freedom of expression and human rights.

5. What role has legacy media played in addressing disinformation, misinformation and propaganda in situations of conflict, violence and disturbances? What challenges do legacy media face in combating such information manipulation?

1. One of the key challenges that legacy media in India, housing 75000 newspapers and over 1000 television channels, combat is to choose between what is the most credible view as opposed to what is the most popular view. In India, media ethics have taken a backseat and ‘Sensation above sense’ is the new era of the legacy media houses in which number of celebrities, indigenous religious leaders are targeted for higher Television Rating Point (TRP) and in several cases including Jessica Lal case (2010)¹¹⁰, Kanchi Shankaracharya (2004)¹¹¹, Priyadarshini Mattoo case (2006)¹¹², SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam (2010), Aarushi Talwar’s Murder (2013)¹¹³, Rhea Chakraborty (2019)¹¹⁴, Aryan Khan (2022)¹¹⁵ declared as guilty by the media even before the actual trial began affecting the reputation of judicial proceedings. The Regulatory Agencies must adopt integrated protective response mechanisms in addition to psychological and legal support for victims of media disinformation and ensure fair justice and trial is offered to victims of media disinformation.

2. The legacy media partners must focus on high-quality unbiased journalism building trust and strive to restore responsible freedom of expression through responsible journalism. Legacy media houses must call out fake news, decontextualized information and disinformation by considering facts and

110

https://www.femina.in/trending/opinion/living-in-the-age-of-media-trials-loud-anchors-and-fake-news-169134.ht ml

¹¹¹ https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu//article60501803.ece

¹¹² https://thelawbrigade.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Monisha.pdf

¹¹³ https://thewire.in/media/rhea-chakraborty-sushant-singh-rajput-aarushi-talwar-media-trial

114

https://theprint.in/opinion/media-trial-of-rhea-chakraborty-by-tv-channels-is-a-potboiler-based-on-conspiracy-the ories/498171/

¹¹⁵ https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/hounding-of-aryan-khan-7940105/

allegations from both parties involved without prejudice and vested interests to mislead the larger public.

3. KAILASA commits to disseminate unbiased information to unify the Hindu diaspora through resolute efforts to recognize and legitimize the Hindu double genocide and ongoing persecution of indigenous minority communities by building relations, bridging dialogs, inspiring masses, uniting nations towards acknowledging the Hindu policies which are universal, life positive and progressive.

6. Please provide examples of good practices, including at the community level, to fight disinformation and hate speech during conflicts and disturbances.

1. ShriKailasa Uniting Nations for Responsible Marketing and Advertising, International agency of the AIAT community that supports a number of legacy media outlets and more than 5000 social media handles that strictly operates on the principles of responsible journalism mitigating the risk communication and community engagement strategies while sharing texts, audio, image and video content. The agency allows the community to make informed decisions before we spread opinionated views, prejudice and hate speech. Some of the key policies operated by the legacy media houses and social media handles held by the AIAT community of KAILASA includes - Question the source of information, authority that can verify the information, consider the emotional impact and two side story, pause and Reflect before you share. The Agency is committed to engage in free and open debates of such events.

2. One of the initiatives, Hinduism Now Global Press of ShriKailasa Uniting Nations for Responsible Marketing and Advertising through responsible democracy, brought awareness about persecution of AIAT community and persecution of several other indigenous communities that are unknown to the world and has been overlooked by the mainstream media, positively created the international audiences with a Hindu viewpoint on major global events surrounding Hindus and Hinduism.

3. The infodemic in the context of COVID-19 pandemic¹¹⁶ had a severe impact globally in responding to emergency, protection and prevention of the outbreak where people had immense difficulty to look for trustworthy information, the transmission patterns and available medical care endangering democratic decision making processes. The AIAT’s social media wing played a crucial role in ensuring the community around the globe sharing evidence based information, offered critical cure and care opportunities through programs and conventions

¹¹⁶ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.610623/full

focussing on holistic health care owing to which the community demonstrated zero deaths and infections¹¹⁷ during pandemic.

7. Please share any suggestions or recommendations you may have for the Special Rapporteur on how to protect and promote freedom of opinion and expression while countering the manipulation of information in times of conflict, disturbances or tensions.

1. States are obliged to guarantee a free flow of ideas and information from all parties involved in accordance with prescription by unambiguous law; pursuance of a legitimate purpose; and respect for the principles of necessity and proportionality in addition to technical measures.

2. Regulatory agencies must formulate strict measures against advocacy of national, racial or religious hate speech that constitutes incitement, hostility, violence, prejudice and lawfare. The agencies must comply to transparency and unbiased approach towards harsh sanctions, censorship and blocking without compromising on right to freedom of expression

3. Digital literacy and training modules emphasizing access to information and the right to freedom of expression, mitigating the impact of social, gender and access digital divide reducing social exclusions, bringing more accountability and transparency must be one of the key measures, policies and strategies to be adopted by states and NGO’s.

4. Digital handles owned by the private companies calls for a sense of responsibility and accountability transmitting information complying with International policies pertaining to misinformation and disinformation and freedom of expression through secure framework of advanced technologies, transparent algorithms involving transmission of unbiased data.

8. What other issues in relation to freedom of opinion and expression in the context of conflict do you feel should be given attention by the Special Rapporteur and why?

Please share any relevant documents, reports, news or academic articles that you believe should be considered by the Special Rapporteur.

1. Media disinformation has been one of the core causes of delegitimization of indigenous minority traditions like the AIAT, through hate propaganda on gurus who are appointed through the respective succession procedure as per the norm, custom and tradition of that ancient kingdom or community.

2. A fundamental element of any religious community’s freedom is its ability to independently appoint clergy and leadership. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 36/55, Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of

¹¹⁷ https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/IntOrder/Multilateralism/AdiShaiviteMinorityTradition.pdf

Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Article 6 (g)¹⁵ states: “the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief includes the freedom, to train, appoint, elect or designate by succession appropriate leaders...”. Religion is not merely scripture, rituals, and doctrine but also includes infrastructure and governance: the practice and teaching of religion and belief include acts integral to the conduct by religious groups of their basic affairs, such as, inter alia, the freedom to choose their religious leaders, priests, and teachers, the freedom to establish seminaries or religious schools. Succession process is an integral part of the freedom of religion¹¹⁸ in minority Hindu traditions like the AIAT.

3. The appointments and selection process of Gurus is a Hindu theophanic ecclesial religious science which is also a fundamental human right upheld by International Human Rights Law and international United Nations agencies, supported by leading democracies of the world, which clearly declare that political, judicial, or any other state or non-state actors have no right of interfering in these appointments under any circumstances.

4. The media disinformation has been specifically targeting minority indigenous spiritual traditions, by justifying these crimes against the minority traditions:

a. taking over their temples,

b. misappropriating their temple funds, misappropriating their temple land, kidnapping and trafficking their worshipped Deities, destroying their heritage and religious structures using heavy earthmovers, and interfering with their religious appointments by means which are not just unconstitutional, and not just against international standards on freedom of religion or belief, but also against the ancient indigenous laws and customs with an aim to undermine, usurp, and destroy millennia-old Hindu monastic institutions in direct violation of India’s constitution as well as international treaties, conventions, and norms.

5. Hinduism is a vast and heterogenous religion that comprises various spiritual traditions and lineages referred to as sampradayas. Many of these Sampradayas (religious Sects) date back thousands of years and are led by individuals who are regarded to be Avatars, or incarnations of divine beings, in an unbroken succession whereby a new leader or Gurumahasannidanam is selected and coronated by his immediate predecessor, the current Gurumahasannidanam. In this regard, these Hindu Sampradayas operate in a manner very similar to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of ritualistically selecting and installing new Guru Mahasannidhanams who are believed to be reincarnations and living manifestations of divine beings.

6. Media disinformation is systematically used to denigrate and delegitimize minority religion and tradition¹¹⁹ and facilitating the illegal takeover of the ancient sovereign

¹¹⁸ Freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed by Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights¹², Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights¹³. Freedom of religion or belief has many dimensions, and it intersects with other human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights¹⁴ sets forth, in Article 18, the principle that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”, and clearly states that such a right “includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others, and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practise, worship and observance”.

¹¹⁹ (i) "Attacks fuel Brahmin fears". Telegraph India. (ii)

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/sacred-threads-of-10-brahmin-men-cut-off-in-chennai-after-bjp-leader-called-to-b/309198

kingdoms of the minority tribes¹²⁰ by Hindumisic forces¹²¹ by spreading false narratives such as claiming that the Sanatana Hindu religion was created merely 200 years ago¹²².

7. The SPH and His AIAT community is subject to delegitimization of indigenous Hindu succession in various forms:

1. Interference of the State in religious matters¹²³ and rituals¹²⁴

2. Interference of the State in the succession of the lineages of reincarnate Gurus of thousand-year-old religious institutions done since 11,000 BCE as prescribed in sacred ancient indigenous Hindu scriptures such as Kamika Agama.

3. The deep state elements made multiple life attacks on the followers and monk and nun disciples of the SPH and thwarted any legal action against them though the attacks were reported to the law enforcement authorities¹²⁵. This is in spite of the Court order by the High Court of Madras¹²⁶ and order of the sub court¹²⁷ unequivocally establishing the right of The SPH over the 5 mutts as the Pontiff. In a blatant contempt of the Court order, the deep state elements forcibly eliminated the AIAT members from the monastery. Till date the AIAT members are not able to carry out the rituals or services or revival of the ancient kingdoms.

4. Kailasounnata Shyamalapeetha Sarvajnapeetham Madurai Adheenam:

a. The more than 5000-years-old¹²⁸ Madurai Aadheenam is a Hindu ASMT monastery and the world’s oldest surviving monastic order. It was established by incarnations of Paramaśiva and Parashakti (primordial Hindu Divinities) themselves as Lord Sundareshwara and His consort Divine Mother Meenakshi directly. The SPH was declared by the 292nd pontiff of the ancient Madurai Aadheenam to be the successor of the

120 https://thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/pontiffs-of-ancient-shaivite-mutts-congratulate-stalin/article34482675.ece

¹²¹ https://newsguru.news/en/dmks-watered-down-atheism-why-the-dravidian-party-is-desperate-to-show-its-hindu-side/

¹²² Kalaiarasi Natarajan, a Tamil leader’s statement - https://twitter.com/HLKodo/status/1340732587673747457

123 The Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act, 1923 (Act I of 1925) www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1687/Constitutional-Validity-of-the-Hindu-Religious-and-Charitable-Endowment-Act.html 124

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-government-officials-are-managing-religious-places-and-temples-supre me-court/articleshow/68778685.cms

125 (i) CSR No. 346/2015, Tiruvarur Town, dated 24-Oct-2015 16:30 (ii) CC37/2015 FIR 587/2015 (27 Oct) shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/CC37-2015_FIR587-2015_MaJyotikaSwami.pdf (iii) FIR 634/15 (Register number 5352874) dated 27 Nov 15, Thiruvarur District (iv) FIR 482/15, PS Vedaranyam, dated 27 Nov 2015 drive.google.com/file/d/1yiqDHuoQmgnWD37GiNrNfIb00QDEfWjW/view. (v) FIR No.14/2015 dated 7 Jan 2015 (1PM), Thanjavur West Police Station, District Thanjavur. On the contrary disinformation and hate propaganda was spread to incite mob violence and lynching of the minority community, youtu.be/eRIYu2xguG8 ,” youtube.com/watch?v=eRIYu2xguG8&lc=UgzPVRI09bZwNd_IaUF4AaABAg

126 CRP 430/2016

127 IA 348/2015 in OS 90/2015 on 8 January 2016

¹²⁸ From records of past few Gurumahasannidhanams it is seen that the average tenure of a Gurumahasannidhanam has been around 30 years, according to which the monastery must have started some 8700 years ago.

https://shyamalapeetasarvajnapeetam.nithyananda.org/mother-doc/madurai-aadheenam-mother-document/

Madurai Aadheenam¹²⁹ recognizing the SPH as an avatar (incarnation) of Paramashiva and lauding his achievements.¹³⁰

b. Within days of this step towards revival of the ancient sovereign kingdom of Madurai, the disinformation and following lawfare was unleashed. Multiple attempts were made to assassinate the SPH and the 292nd pontiff¹³¹.

c. The disinformation spread was to character assassinate and delegitimize the SPH with baseless allegations of theft of a non-existent deity ‘Maragatha Lingam’, possession of deer skin and elephant tusks¹³², running prostitution racket, lacing drug in the free milk service in accordance with reviving the traditional custom of the kindgom, brainwashing the 292nd pontiff, and more such lies.

d. More than 7 vexatious litigations¹³³ were made in the lawfare to dethrone the SPH including petitions claiming kidnap of the 292nd pontiff, theft of antiques, disqualification for the post of pontiff. The SPH won these vexatious litigations. Then the deep state attacked the aging frail 232nd pontiff with a vexatious litigation alleging financial fraudulence against him and disqualifying the appointment of the SPH as his successor¹³⁴.

e. In October 2012, about 6 months from the appointment of the SPH as the successor pontiff, inspite of the grassroots revival of the ancient sovereign kingdom of Madurai Aadheenam to its traditional glory, due to the overwhelming pressure in the form of a multitude of vexatious litigations, violent attacks, attempts to assassinate the 292nd and the 293rd pontiff, rape of female monks, media hate propaganda and the attempts by the State to take-over the Aadheenam (temple-monastery), the 292nd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, released an illegal statement nullifying the

¹²⁹ (i) Letter of Appointment to Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Board from 292^(nd) Gurumahasannidanam dated 11 May 2012. (ii) Notorized Affidavit dated 27 April 2012, by 292^(nd) Gurumahasannidanam Affirming Coronation of 293^(rd) Gurmahasannidanam (Notarized by Certificate number IN-KA93558783901437K) (iii)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/12929265.cms (iv)

https://www.oneindia.com/2012/04/27/nithyanandadeclared-293rd-pontiff-of-maduraiaadheenam.html

¹³⁰ 7 May 2012 - Dinakaran - Page 6 - Madurai edition

¹³¹ 29 May 2012, two monks of the SPH that had been posted to maintain the Kanjanur temple, were beaten by the neo-Hindutva terrorists and had to be hospitalized.

-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Protests-still-haunt-Nithyananda/articleshow/13184093.cms

A mob of 100 anti-Hindu atheistic militants who opposed the appointment of the SPH as the 293rd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam, came to mob lynch the SPH when he was at his Kanjanur Agneeshwara temple residence (17 May 2012, Daily Thanthi, Page 4). The personal secretaries (monks) of the SPH were assaulted. The mob smashed the SPH’s car. The monks managed to escape. With injuries, they drove to the local police station for protection, filed a complaint, and got themselves hospitalized - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=221868921865134

The next day on 30 May 2012, the SPH was leaving the city of Kanjanur when again a mob of anti-Hindu atheistic militants attacked, disciples of the SPH were assaulted in front of the police. .

132 https://nithyanandatruth.org/2012/05/12/wildlife-act-violation-allegations-paramahamsa-nithyananda-aquitted/

¹³³(i) WP 6607/.2012, (ii) WP 8260/2012, (iii) WP 9648/2012, (iv) WP 12915/2012, (v) WP 13751/2012, (vi) OS 83/2012, (vii) OS 621/2012

¹³⁴ OS 1000/2012 in the sub Court of Madurai by HRCE alleging financial mismanagement against the 292nd pontiff and challenging the appointment of the SPH as the 293rd pontiff

appointment of The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam as his successor and 293rd Pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam.

f. On 3 May 2018, the SPH was faced with a vexatious litigation filed by a Hindumisic element who misrepresented the facts, rode on the media disinformation and was prohibited by the High Court of Madras from entering Madurai Aadheenam. The SPH was threatened that he would be arrested if he did not resign from his responsibility as the 293rd Pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam. Right from 2012, the SPH was stopped from performing the essential religious rituals of the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Temple, such as the Kumbha Abhishekham¹³⁵ which happens only once in several years and is one of the primary responsibilities of the Gurumahasannidhanam, who is the incarnation of Paramashiva, to directly supervise and perform. The interference of the deep state in rituals was not limited to stopping the Pontiff from participating but also interfered in the traditional rituals of the aadheenam by banning the use of the ancient AIAT language of Sanskrit by spreading disinformation through the media that Sanskrit is a source of nepotism in society and adding to the violations of religious freedom that has been pointed out as a matter of concern by the world¹³⁶.

g. The order of the High Court had multiple instances of repeating the media disinformation including unsubstantiated labels against the SPH of “criminal background”, being a “habitual offender”, “self-proclaimed godman”, one “who has a criminal background and is a habitual offender, having involved in sexual abuse” and also as one who is “unknown to the principles of Saivism”, “unfit to head the Mutt”, “has not been leading a simple life, whereby the desires in life are eradicated”, “mutt grabber.” The Court concluded that the SPH’s appointment would bring “disrepute” to the Madurai Adheenam and condemned the SPH even for approaching the Court for legal reprieve by calling the SPH a ”prolific litigant“ and ”has a quest for power” and stating “The country is mounting with self-proclaimed godmen like the eighth respondent, who claim to be spiritual gurus initially and later proclaim themselves to be god and in the process end up amassing wealth and abusing innocent and vulnerable children and women.” , “I will see that your ashram is vanished.”

h. The attacks on the SPH took on grave proportions as on 2 February 2018, there was an attack by explosive arson on the SPH at the Madurai Meenakshi temple. The attack gutted a section of the temple and caused

¹³⁵ "Consecration: Kumbhabhishekam | The Pluralism Project". pluralism.org.

¹³⁶ (i) www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/04/28/india-receives-low-rating-us-government-watchdog-religious-freedom (ii) https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-should-be-a-country-of-particular-concern-for-religious-freedom-us-com mission/article34379418.ece

a whole massive length of 600 feet stone of the 3000-year-old structure to collapse and break.¹³⁷

i. On 9 August 2021, the 292nd Pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam was admitted to a hospital, due to respiratory ailments. On 12 August 2021, the Madurai Aadheenam was sealed late at night by the deep state elements to deprive the SPH of any possibility of assuming his responsibility as the successor pontiff¹³⁸. The media disinformation was that locking was done by a disciple as a “precaution¹³⁹,rather than the truth that it was to prevent the entry of the SPH directly or through His authorized personnel to perform His religious and administrative duties.

j. Although the SPH is the 293^(rd) pontiff of the Madurai Aadheenam, a fact that was also upheld by the order of the Madras High court Division Bench backed by a Supreme Court of India order on a similar matter¹⁴⁰, the deep state groomed person was appointed as the 293rd pontiff on 14 August 2021¹⁴¹ This was not just illegal and unconstitutional, it was against the traditions of the AIAT community established in more than 10,000 years old scriptures – the Kamika Agamas and practiced for an equally long time. The Madras High Court Madurai branch, it was observed, “this court is of the opinion that the Petitioner’s appointment is irrevocable and hence he [Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam] is the Junior Pontiff of the Mutt.”¹⁴² The media disinformation with the deep state made sure that this was not reported in the media and it was made to appear that the SPH’s rightful accession to the throne of the Madurai Aadheenam was unlawful and illegitimate.

5. Paramparagatha Kanchi Kailasa Sarvajnapeetham Thondaimandala Adheenam:

137 thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cb-cid-may-be-asked-to-investigate-madurai-meenakshi-temple-fire/article22672437.ece

138

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/aug/13/madurai-aadheenam-rooms-sealed-after-fugitive-nithyan anda-stakes-claim-as-successor-2344180.html

¹³⁹ Falsely reported by the media as, In the meantime, the disciples of Sri Arunagiri Nathar, after realising the deteriorating condition, locked up the rooms at the Mutt premises situated near the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai on Friday as a "precautionary" measure, sources said.”

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/madurai-adheenam-pontiff-passes-away/article35906125.ece

¹⁴⁰ (i) “The Supreme Court further held that the fact of a person being legally nominated as Junior and the capacity to succeed to the Head is an incident of that status and it was further held that the status, when created by a nomination, cannot be withdrawn or canceled at the mere will of the parties, unless in accordance with the law“, 28 April 1980, AIR 1983 Mad 72 https://indiankanoon.org/doc/651773/ (ii) The Supreme Court of India, Sri Mahalinga Thambiran Swamigal vs His Holiness Sri La Sri Kasivasi on 19 October, 1973 1974 AIR 199, 1974 SCR (2) 74, https://indiankanoon.org/doc/307513/

141

https://www.news18.com/news/india/we-worship-shiva-he-behaves-like-shiva-madurai-mutt-retorts-after-fugitive-nithyananda-claims-top-pos t-4100630.html

¹⁴² “point 44. .. Hence this court is of the opinion that the Petitioner’s appointment is irrevocable and hence he [Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam] is the Junior Pontiff of the Mutt.”, order to CRP.(PD)(MD) 818 of 2018 and CMP(MD) 3630 of 2018 Before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, delivered on 10 July 2018,

https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/Order_to_Crp.(PD)(MD)_818-of-2018_and_CMP(MD)_3630-of-2018_Madurai_Bench_Madras_ High_Court_dated_10-July-2018-(CRP_OS_1000).pdf alternative link https://indiankanoon.org/doc/96776711/

a. Kailasa Paramparagatha Kanchi Kailasa Sarvajnapeetham Thondaimandala Adheenam (referred to as Thondaimandala Adheenam subsequently) is one of the oldest spiritual kingdoms established by Lord Paramaśiva²⁷⁸ (primordial Hindu Divinity), in the form of His incarnation Adi Nathar, and was revived 5000 years ago, with its capital as the City of Kanchipuram.

b. On April 14, 2001, the 232^(nd) Gurumahasannidanam of the Thondaimandala Adheenam, Sri Thiruvambaladesika Jnanaprakasha Swamigal, nominated the SPH as his lawful successor, the 233^(rd) Gurumahasannidanam.

c. The 230^(th) Gurumahasannidanam along with the 232^(nd) Gurumahasannidanam had trained the SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam right from his early childhood, and also a few of the disciples of the SPH. Since 2005, several under trainee disciples of the SPH lived in the Thondaimandala Adheenam as trainee monks and assisted the 232^(nd) Gurumahasannidhanam with its maintenance and operations while also attending to His personal and healthcare needs. However, as was the case with Madurai Adheenam, the presence of AIAT members and the involvement of the SPH with Thondaimandala Adheenam led to retaliation by the Hindumisic forces again using media as the weapon to attack the SPH and AIAT.

d. On several occasions, the 232^(nd) Gurumahasannidanam took refuge at the residence of the SPH in the neighboring state of Karnataka and publicly spoke out against the Hindumisic militants who had spread baseless rumors that He had been kidnapped by the SPH to inflame communal tensions against the ASMT community¹⁴³.

e. The deep state elements used the media vehicle to takeover the ancient kingdom of Thondaimandala Aadheenam in its control¹⁴⁴. On 2^(nd) July 2017, Hindumisic forces like the HMK threatened the 232nd pontiff to “vacate the Thondaimandala monastery or face our next actions”¹⁴⁵. The media disinformation kept the public desensitized to both the crimes by the Hindumisic forces and the systematic destruction of the Thondaimandala aadheenam. The personal secretary of the 232nd pontiff and the father of the successor being trained by the 232nd pontiff and the SPH was burnt alive through a blast in the kitchen of the Aadheenam. More than 50% of his body was burnt with second to third degree burns, yet the deep state and media disinformation influenced police refused to register any complaint and did not investigate the matter, despite showing

¹⁴³ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSXqGB8mnzU

¹⁴⁴ https://youtu.be/KSXqGB8mnzU

¹⁴⁵ (i) Police report CSR 537/2017 PS Sivakanchi, District Kancheepuram, by G Thulasi Sub Inspector of Police, dated 3 July 2017 18:15 IST, http://eservices.tnpolice.gov.in (ii) Letter of threat dated 2 July 2017

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AiGI1O2MuIBrIRFce6pj06v3-7wNxSNV/view?usp=sharing

the letters of death threats by the Hindumisic elements. On much appeal, the police only recorded the attack as a non-cognizable event¹⁴⁶, something which they need not investigate. The AIAT community filed a petition to the Court to direct the police to investigate the matter, the court refused to accept the petition.

f. On 23 November 2020, on his deathbed, the 232^(nd) Pontiff expressed his last wish to the Secretary of Sekkizhar Kalvi Panpattu Kazhagam (the largest group of initiated Thondai Mandala AIAT disciples), “… Very good and knowledgeable, and a very good age and integrated and honest character Nithyananda has and His nature of not going after others wealth is what is safe for our mutt...four Mudaliyar (from AIAT community=) people nominate Nithyananda's name and the name (Sundareshwara Maharaj) referred by Him is a qualified, intelligent, right age, well-disciplined and Nithyananda's well-trusted person is always what is safe to our mutt.…” ¹⁴⁷

g. On 16 Feb 2021, the deep state elements appointed a person from another monastery Dharmapuram Adheenam headed by a deep state groomed pontiff, as the pontiff of Thondaimandala Aadheenam. The 233^(rd) successor pontiff willed and trained and customarily ordained by the 232nd pontiff and the SPH was forcibly evicted. The deities of the deceased 232^(nd) pontiff that as per the AIAT tradition had been worshipped each day for centuries were thrown out on the street by the deep state elements in the State appointed Advisory committee.

h. On 4 March 2021, the displaced pontiff challenged his illegal displacement and illegal appointment of another pontiff¹⁴⁸. Though on 16 Nov 1959, in W.P. No. 261, the High Court had struck down a similar illegal appointment, on 18 March 2021, the High Court judge did not hear the plea and disposed of the plea.

i. On 3 March 2021, in a public interview, PTRP Thiyagarajan (incumbent Finance Minister of State of Tamil Nadu) of the political party DMK bragged that he along with his brother PTRK Vijayarajan (Head of the State appointed Advisory Committee which decides who can and cannot be Guru Maha Sannidhanam), evicted the appointed 233^(rd) successor pontiff and AIATcommunity members from the Thondaimandala Aadheenam. Showing no remorse for breaking the age-old tradition of Guru-disciple lineage the DMK minister and his brother vilified the SPH,

¹⁴⁶ CSR 876/2017³⁰² (Sivakanchi Police Station, Kancheepuram District)

¹⁴⁷ Final words of the 292nd pontiff https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WU6xlLNx77pIeU2cKHZRjqcLcoEsQdqL/view “ந ல ந ல சிற த க வ அறி சிற த வய ேந ைமயான ணJ நி யான தாவ ஆசப டவ மாக நி யான தாவ வ ர ந ம

மட எ ப ேச J. Jதலியா க நா ேப ந லேப ெசா லி நி யான த ேபைர ெசா னா இ ப நª க ெசா ன

ேப க எ லா ந ல சிற த க வ அறி , சிற த வய , ேந ைமயான ணJ , ப ர தியா கா ஆைச படாதவ நி யான தாவ வ ர ந ம மட எ ப safety. எ ன.”

¹⁴⁸ High Court of Madras in Writ Petition WP 5899 of 2021 (with Injunction Petition No. 6508 of 2021 and Stay petition No. 6509 of 2021).

the late 232^(nd) Pontiff, the 233^(rd) successor Pontiff and the AIAT community and emphasized that the mutt would be run as per the atheistic ideology.

j. On 5 March 2021, the State confirmed the appointment of the deep state groomed pontiff and illegally nullified the religious appointment done by the 232^(nd) pontiff.

k. The deep state elements denied the succession right to the SPH as the 233rd pontiff of the ancient Thondaimandala Aadheenam though he was declared by the 232nd pontiff during his lifetime as well as on his deathbed.¹⁴⁹.

6. The five Spiritual Kingdoms:

a. On 15 Apr 2014, the SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam was coronated as the pontiff of five ancient Adi Shaivite Mutts (monasteries):

i. Kailasa Paramparagatha Surya Vamsa Panchanadikulam Sarvajnapeetham

ii. Sri Arunachala Jnanadesikar Swami Temple & Mutt (Panchanadikulam, Vedaranyam)

iii. Kailasa Paramparagatha Surya Vamsa Vedaranya Sarvajnapeetham Sri Po.Ka. Sadhukkal Mutt, Vedaranyam

iv. Kailasa Paramparagatha Sūrya Vaṃśa Chola Samrajya Sarvajnapeetham

Sri Sankara Swami Mutt, Thanjavur Sri Palsamy Mutt, Thanjavur

v. Kailasa Paramparagatha Sūrya Vamsa Adi Chola Samrajya Kamala Peetha Sarvajnapeetham

Sri Somanatha Swami Mutt and Temple, Thiruvarur

b. This provoked the Hindumisic elements to attack physically and through media disinformation. On 23 Oct 2015, in Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, the Hindumisic forces who had unlawfully encroached on the Thiruvarur AIAT temple (Sri Somanatha Swami Mutt and Temple) and were misusing the temple property, attacked an AIAT monk who was running the temple. The attackers gave a verbal threat to kill him and left. The police recorded a non-cognizable CSR report (Community service register)¹⁵⁰.

c. On 27 Oct 2015, Thiruvarur, a female AIAT monk was attacked by Hindumisic forces who attempted to rape her inside the temple premises. Despite being shown photographic evidence of the attack the police refused to accept her complaint and remarked, “O you Nithyananda people” , but accepted a false complaint filed by her attacker over the telephone without even demanding his physical presence or any evidence. On much appeal the police registered the complaint of the AIAT

149 interview (from 18:20 mins to 21:20 mins) https://youtu.be/420zj4Hjn8E

¹⁵⁰ CSR No. 346/2015, Tiruvarur Town, dated 24-Oct-2015 16:30

nun¹⁵¹ As of 2021, the case was disposed of without fair trial and her rapists are roaming freely.

d. The AIAT community got a Court order to stop the interference in the management of the Hindumisic forces in the administration of the AIAT temples¹⁵².

e. Yet, the attacks and spreading of disinformation and suppression of the justice by the Court continued. On 26 Nov 2015, Thiruvarur, an AIAT monk, and a community member were physically assaulted by 10 militants. The injured received emergency treatment at the government hospital in Tiruvarur¹⁵³.

f. On 27 Nov 2015, Vedaranyam, a group of 10-15 militants forcibly entered into the monastery. Following this fifty more militants barged in and started brutally beating the AIAT monks with iron rods. The militants sacrileged ASMT Hindu Deities and religious altars of the monastery. The militants lifted the heavy furniture, vessels and smashed these on the heads and bodies of the monks. Almost unconscious the monks were dragged to the street, where they continued to be beaten in front of a huge mob that had gathered around and watched the beating with bystander’s apathy. One of the monks, had recorded the attack. The militants having realized it chased him for more than a kilometer as he nearly escaped being mob lynched. The monks were given no ambulance or assistance and had to seek even basic humanitarian first aid on their own by admitting themselves to the government hospital. The monks gave a police complaint which was rejected by the police. Only after much persistence, the police agreed to receive the complaint.¹⁵⁴

g. On Dec 6, 2015, Thiruvarur, anti-Hindu atheists spread media disinformation¹⁵⁵ vilifying the AIAT community and glorifying the forceful eviction of the AIAT monks from the Sri Somanatha Swami Mutt (monastery) and Temple, Thiruvarur. The monks were seen in the video showing to the police and the media the court order from 7 Nov 2015 (to OS 90/2015), which established them as the rightful administrators of the temple. No heed was paid to the court order, and the monks forcibly evicted from their temple. To shame the ASMT monks, the militants who had attacked the monks uploaded the footage of eviction on Youtube and hatefully commented how they assaulted the monks, inciting hatred and violence against the community especially targeting the female monks¹⁵⁶.

¹⁵¹ CC37/2015 FIR 587/2015 (27 Oct) shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/CC37-2015_FIR587-2015_MaJyotikaSwami.pdf

¹⁵² IA 348/15 in OS 90/2015 dated 21-11-2015

¹⁵³ FIR 634/15 (Register number 5352874) dated 27 Nov 15, Thiruvarur District

¹⁵⁴ FIR 482/15, PS Vedaranyam, dated 27 Nov 2015 drive.google.com/file/d/1yiqDHuoQmgnWD37GiNrNfIb00QDEfWjW/view

¹⁵⁵ Red Pix 24x7 - Swami Nithyananda Group are Chased Out of Thiruvarur Temple – youtu.be/eRIYu2xguG8

¹⁵⁶ The Rock / Parthasarathy J’s comment, “I have hit one nithyanandha people when they try to encourage near pallavaram. I request everyone to hit them nicely. Even don't show courtesy for women in nithyanandha ashram. They are the most dangerous” youtube.com/watch?v=eRIYu2xguG8&lc=UgzPVRI09bZwNd_IaUF4AaABAg

h. The deep state elements continued to thwart the process of justice to the AIAT. On 8 Jan 2015, Tanjore, the Hindumisic forces brutally attacked the AIAT monks and violently beat them to vacate them from the property thereby denying The SPH Nithyananda Paramashivam to continue the spiritual administration of the monasteries. The first attack was in the Tanjore Palsamy mutt. The terrorist forces had sent a mob of 20 assassins armed with iron rods, wooden rods, and iron chains. They beat an AIAT member till he collapsed. They then dragged him out of the monastery and left while he was still helpless and bleeding. The police registered a complaint but refused to act on it.¹⁵⁷

i. The Madras High Court in its order upheld the succession of the SPH as the pontiff of the 5 mutts. Yet the media disinformation prevented this order from being known and the deep state continued to bar the AIAT from legal possession of their property.

j. On 30 Apr 2019, Vedaranyam, the deep state elements in the HR&CE passed an illegal order to bring the Sri Po.Ka. Sadhukkal Mutt in Vedaranyam under their control against the orders of the Court.

k. Till now, despite being backed up by the court orders, The SPH and ASMT members are not able to carry out the rituals or services or revival of the mutt.

7. Physical destruction of temple infrastructure

a. The deep state elements in the state of Uttar Pradesh destroyed the Hindu Temple of The Kashi Sarvajnapeetha of the SPH at Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi using heavy machinery and earthmover machines. The demolition was completely illegal and done in contempt of multiple High Court orders in W.P. 58947/2017 in Allahabad High Court that specifically had given a stay order in favor of the AIAT and forbade the government from touching the property and specifically prohibiting the government to demolish the Kashi Sarvajnapeetha¹⁵⁸.

b. The SPH was deprived of the property ordained to him by his guru, Mata Vibhutananda Puri, who had declared the SPH as her successor to the spiritual seat of Arunachala Sarvajnapeetham, Tiruvannamalai, by Guru Parampara (Guru lineage) from Isakki Swamigal, and gave the title “Brahmasukhi” through a formal initiation letter. She built and gifted Him a small ashram (monastery) in Pavazhakundru. Pavazhakundru is a sacred hillock in Tiruvannamalai where Devi Parashakti (primordial Hindu Mother Goddess) had Her enlightenment experience during one of Her incarnations on the planet earth. The SPH also had His first enlightenment experience in Pavalakundru. Even though all the property documents show the SPH as the owner of the land, the Tamil Nadu State

¹⁵⁷ FIR No.14/2015 dated 7 Jan 2015 (1PM), Thanjavur West Police Station, District Thanjavur

158 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nslPJvsn9JU

Government has repeatedly prevented the monks and nuns of the SPH from performing puja (worship) to the sacred hill. Monks were forcibly evacuated by authorities, beaten and raped by deep state elements.

c. Multiple places and kingdoms of the indigenous AIAT like in Chennai were grabbed by spreading misinformation about the SPH and AIAT.

8. Elimination of spiritual leaders¹⁵⁹ ¹⁶⁰ through direct assassination attempts¹⁶¹ incited by media disinformation to incite ’mob violence’ like burning alive¹⁶², mob lynching¹⁶³, stabbing¹⁶⁴, acid attacks¹⁶⁵, attacks with weapons¹⁶⁶ and explosives¹⁶⁷, torture in the name of ‘medical tests¹⁶⁸, forcible consumption of food not permitted by religion, enforced disappearances¹⁶⁹, custodial torture after

159 https://gov.shrikailasa.org/persecution - Over 70 assassination attempts on the SPH and continued attacks through lawfare, media disinformation, attacks on the AIAT members, monks and nuns and the illegal arbitrary denial of the passport of the SPH (https://shrikailasa.github.io/persecution_evidences/2018-Aug-24_illegal_mea_notice_without_even_signature.jpg, Dec 6, 2019, The Economic Times, “Nithyananda's passport cancelled, fresh application was rejected: MEA” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlrKv_qQ9xM 2min 2secs to 2mins 55sec) inspite of Court orders revoking the illegal impounding and granting this Constitutional right to citizenship pushing the SPH into de jure statelessness.

160 Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad Chief killed

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/narendra-giri-death-cbi-charges-anand-giri-2-others-with-criminal-conspiracy-abetment-to-suicide/a rticleshow/87819201.cms

161 Tiruvannamalai -3 March 2010 - Tamil Murasu - Page 1 - Chennai edition - “Nithyananda Thalaimarivu”

162 4 March 2010 - Dina Malar - Page 2 - Chennai - “Nithyananda Ashram Meedhu Thaaku” , 4 March 2010

bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/swami-on-the-run/articleshow/21911753.cms

163 4 March 2010 - Deccan Chronicle - Pondy Ashram ransacked

4 March 2010 bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/swami-on-the-run/articleshow/21911753.cms http://www.deccanherald.com/content/124822/nityananda-greeted-black-flags.html

17 May 2012, Daily Thanthi, Page 4, deep state workers show black flags as warning to Nithyananda

164 “Irked by Nithyananda’s attitude, a local journalist allegedly slapped him for giving selective interviews to some television news channels.” https://www.deccanherald.com/content/58601/rishikesh-seer-gave-shelter-nithyananda.html

165 https://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-onlooker-flings-slipper-at-swami-nithyananda-in-bangalore-1374632

166 FIR 81/2013 dated 10/March/2013 at the 8th Addl. CMM Court. Nrupatunga Road, Bangalore City , Cr. 3708/2013, CMM Court Bangalore, dated 11 Mar 2013

167 https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madurai-meenakshi-temple-fire-breaks-out-shops-gutted-5049803/

168 27 April 2010 - The New Indian Express, Page 3 - Swamy Has Chest Pain https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QYAQQIMkZsmWoACYKJA-aVLhrroGwryK https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=263353 https://www.deccanherald.com/content/429841/potency-test-legal-nonsense-expert.html

¹⁶⁹ https://scroll.in/article/848519/state-failure-why-did-haryana-allow-lakhs-of-ram-rahims-supporters-to-gather-in-panchkula , (ii)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/india/police-brutality-india-dst-intl-hnk/index.html , (iii) https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/india/police-brutality-india-dst-intl-hnk/index.html , (iv) https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/21/getting-away-torture-india

false cases and illegal arrests¹⁷⁰, blackmail and extortion¹⁷¹, violation of fundamental human rights¹⁷² as well as sexual assaults, physical attacks¹⁷³, illegal arrests¹⁷⁴, torture and harassment of the community members.

9. Misappropriation of temple wealth, land¹⁷⁵, and resources by deep state elements by land grabbing, lawfare.

a. Just like the 1867 Treaty of Cession is reported as not granting title or jurisdiction to the USA, the various State and non-State actors had no right to take away the sovereign ancient kingdoms of the indigenous tribes like AIAT.

b. 7 Nov 2012, Tiruvannamalai - the deep state elements in the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department sent a notice to the Tiruvannamalai Aadheenam (monastery) declaring the State’s intent to take over the monastery which is an ancestral property of the SPH by falsely presenting it as a public temple to get ownership over it to destroy its cultural heritage. The AIAT community approached court challenging this illegality and the order was in the favor of the SPH, but it had a clear prohibition on doing any Hindu religious activities in the place¹⁷⁶. The attacks on the traditional monastery continue¹²⁶.

c. 26 Feb 2013, Tiruvannamalai - The AIAT Kumarakoil Murugar Temple was grabbed by deep state elements as the community had ordained the SPH as the Hereditary Trustee of the Temple, who after assuming the responsibility, started major renovation work. The deep state elements filed a vexatious complaint against the temple trustees, claiming that they were mishandling the temple money and through the the Hindu Religious Charitable Endowment board, illegally took over the temple and appointed

170 25 March 2010 - https://www.deccanherald.com/content/60078/hc-rejects-nithyananda-advance-bail.html

22 Sept 2010, Deccan Chronicle - High court Pulls up CID - https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=86153 m.timesofindia.com/videos/news/Swami%20Nithyananda's%20interrogation%20on%20tape/videoshow/5890450.cms

Dec 2019: Jagga Reddy's poser to Police: Can cops kill Swami Nithyananda in encounter?

www.thehansindia.com/telangana/jagga-reddys-poser-to-police-can-cops-kill-swami-nithyananda-in-encounter-588076 CRL.P. 3253/2012 http://indiankanoon.org/doc/85011170

CID wants to cancel Nithyananda’s bail” -

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2010/sep/21/cid-wants-to-cancel-nithyanandas-bail-188685.html https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/paisa-feko-tamasha-dekho/articleshow/21848697.cms https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2010/sep/22/hc-pulls-up-cid-for-incomplete-affidavit-189027.html

171 Cr.No. 782/2011 Soundhra Pandiyanar Bazaar PS; In Metropolitan Court Saidapet Chennai as CC 2068/15

172 12 June 2010 - Deccan Chronicle - Nithyananda given bail but court gags ‘godman’

bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/denied-his-shivalinga-in-cop-custody-nithyananda-curses-igp-fasts-through-the-night/ar ticleshow/21363014.cms

173 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Protests-still-haunt-Nithyananda/articleshow/13184093.cms

174 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=221868921865134

2 AIAT nuns attacked by a mob of fifty men, the medical report reads, “Assault by [a] mob of 50 people, when she was traveling in

[a] car. They stopped the car and thrashed her in the head at 11:30 AM at Kailasampalayam on 6/9/21.” The medical report mentions injuries in the left and right arm and corresponding medication.

175 Attacks on monks and nuns of AIAT to prevent socio spiritual services in Trishulam aadheenam Chennai and resulting lawfare- CSR 344/2017 , FIR 1425/2017 , FIR 1650/2017 , FIR 1671/2017 at Pallavaram PS

¹⁷⁶ndiankanoon.org/doc/13403449/ and indiankanoon.org/doc/20053893

an Executive officer for the temple. The AIAT community got the order from the High Court of Madras that the community can run the Temple administration yet no renovation and service has been revived as the community continues to be attacked physically and by media disinformation.