Former Staff Of Isha Foundation Alleges Rape, Molestation At Sadhguru’s Institutions
Yamini Ragani, a former faculty member at Isha Home School, and her husband Satya N. Ragani have, on Thursday, accused Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation of serious misconduct, including rape and molestation. The allegations follow recent raids at the foundation’s ashram in Tamil Nadu, which led the foundation to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
Ragani labelled the foundation as “a breeding ground for child abuse,” stating that institutions like Isha Vidya, Isha Sanskruti, and Isha Home School lack regulation, placing children at risk. “Children are mentally and verbally abused, and there are no qualified teachers,” she claimed. Ragani added that no sexual harassment committees or redressal mechanisms exist in these institutions.
She further alleged that her son, a former student at Isha Home School, had been mistreated. The couple also recounted stories of other children, including an eight-year-old girl, facing abuse. According to Ragani, Sadhguru never addressed these concerns.
The Raganis questioned the foundation’s ability to operate independently, warning that the absence of oversight could lead to exploitation. Since 2016, six individuals have reportedly gone missing from the foundation’s premises in Coimbatore, as per Tamil Nadu police disclosures to the Madras High Court. Authorities are also investigating the electrocution of a 17-year-old student, S. Mokshagna, during a yoga outing.
Additional allegations have surfaced from Dr S. Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore, who claimed that the foundation brainwashed and confined his two daughters, aged 42 and 39. Although Tamil Nadu police initiated inquiries, the Supreme Court has stayed any police action and ordered further investigation.
Five more families have come forward with allegations. One anonymous mother said her daughter was repeatedly raped by a physical education teacher and had attempted suicide twice. Parents also accused the school of isolating children by intercepting letters meant for families, allowing only limited contact.
Some parents reported being threatened into silence. “We were part of the inner circle at Isha and were told our lives could be in danger if we spoke out,” they shared. Concerns were also raised about spiritual practices where young girls were allegedly made to meditate bare-chested. “What tradition demands this exposure?” Ragani questioned.
Families affected by these allegations plan to file a case under the Pocso Act, seeking a public investigation. They have set up an email account to gather support from others with similar experiences.
On 18 October, the Supreme Court dismissed a case involving Kamaraj’s daughters, stating that the women were adults living at the ashram of their own free will. However, the court acknowledged a separate case of child abuse involving a doctor at the ashram, while criticising the Madras High Court’s inquiry into the original petition.
