Supreme Court Halts Investigation Against Isha Foundation, Stays Madras High Court Order
"Supreme Court Transfers Case Involving Allegations of Illegal Detention and Religious Conversion to Itself, Next Hearing on October 18"

Image credit: (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)
On Thursday, October 3, the Supreme Court halted the investigation by Tamil Nadu police against Isha Foundation and directed that no further action be taken in compliance with the Madras High Court’s order. Isha Foundation, founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, had approached the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Madras High Court. The High Court had instructed Coimbatore police to gather and present details of all cases registered against the foundation.
The Supreme Court, while staying the High Court’s order, transferred the case to itself and scheduled the next hearing for October 18. During the proceedings, a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the police for a status report. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the foundation, argued that around 500 police officers had raided the Isha Foundation ashram and inspected every corner. Rohatgi requested the court to stay the High Court’s order.
The issue arose when Dr. S. Kamaraj, a retired professor from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Madras High Court, alleging that his two daughters were being illegally detained by the foundation. His daughters, both postgraduates in engineering, had been associated with Isha Foundation. Kamaraj accused the foundation of misleading individuals, converting them to another religion, making them “monks,” and preventing their families from meeting them.
On September 30, the Madras High Court had directed the police to provide details of all cases related to the foundation. Subsequently, on October 1, nearly 500 Tamil Nadu police officers arrived at the ashram for an inspection. In response to this investigation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev approached the Supreme Court, which has now stayed the High Court’s order.