Sadhguru welcoming Amit Shah as the Chief Guest at Mahashivratri Celebrations on 26 February at Isha Yoga Center. (image-Facebook/Sadhguru)
In a press conference held on March 22, two women appealed for the intervention of Home Minister Amit Shah in the case of alleged sexual abuse by Isha Foundation Jagadish “Jaggi Vasudev”, aka Sadhguru,
The women, namely Yamini Ragani and Neeta Jaikanthan, requested an independent, court-monitored investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Jaggi Vasudev.
Also Read | A Look At The Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Sadhguru And Isha Foundation
The two women claimed that they were manipulated, abused, and silenced by “a system that protects fame and influence over facts and fairness.”
Describing the alleged abuse as “systematic, well-coordinated, and psychologically damaging,” the women described how what started as a spiritual journey turned into a “trap of exploitation and fear.”
They claimed that approaching courts, police and senior officials resulted in no action.
“The pain they inflicted on me was not just physical, it was emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. But today, I reclaim my voice,” said Ragani.
In October 17, 2024, Ragani, a former Isha Home School faculty member, first raised allegations about her son being sexually assaulted by another student for three years during his schooling at the Isha Foundation which allegedly told them that the accused boy belonged to “an elite family.”
“I believed I was alone in this pain, but I now know that silence only protects the predator. Speaking out is the first step toward justice,” said Jaikanthan.
The pair demand a transparent and unbiased inquiry into Vasudev and his close circle, under a central agency, monitored by the court. They are also requesting witness protection and psychological support for others who may come forward.
Also Read | Former Staff Of Isha Foundation Alleges Rape, Molestation At Sadhguru’s Institutions
“We have nowhere else to go. You, Hon’ble Home Minister, have the power to show that in this country, justice does not bend before status. We believe you will not turn us away,” they wrote in the letter.
There have been multiple reports of allegations of sexual abuse within the closed doors of Sadhguru’s ashram. A mother of a 7-year-old girl alleged that her daughter was repeatedly raped by a physical education teacher. In another incident, reports of a Delhi woman subjected to sexual assault during a yoga course she attended at the ashram in 2021 also surfaced.
