Sex scandal-hit Indian spiritual guru's Malaysian ashram closed

George Town, Mar. 9 (ANI): An Indian spiritual centre in Kuala Lumpur has been closed after it was revealed that ashram's spiritual guru Swami Paramahamsa Nithyananda was allegedly involved in a sex scandal.

The centre's spokesman claimed that the ashram has ceased operations until "the truth is revealed".

"We made the decision to stop operations for a while following advice from the Malaysia Hindu Sangam," The Star Online quoted him as saying.

Nithyananda landed in trouble after a private Indian TV channel showed him in a compromising position with a Tamil actress.

However, the spokesman said that ashram was only set up to promote the teachings of Nithyananda, and ruled out the swami's involvement in the scandal.

"We do not have the exact number of devotees in Malaysia or healing centres. I believe there are about 400 healers in the country. I was shocked to see the footage. I do not believe that the Swami would have done some­thing like that," he said.

Meanwhile, devotees have come out in support of the scandal-hit swami.

Bank clerk N. Thirunavukkarasu, 45, said: "Ever since I became a follower of his teachings, I have experienced a lot of positive changes in my life," he said, adding that he met Nithyananda during the latter's visits to Malaysia in 2008 and 2009.

Another follower said he was disappointed that Tamil dailies here only published one-sided reports against Nithyananda.

"One day they are full of praises for him and next they just put him down," Kumar said, adding that he believes the footage could have been doctored. (ANI)