Isha Foundation had then, and now denied the charges and said the women – now 42 and 39 – were willing residents. They appeared in front of the High Court and affirmed the Foundation’s statement; one of the women also appeared before the Supreme Court, via video link.
She told the court her sister and she were willing residents and that their father had been harassing them for eight years. She also said their mother had similarly harassed them.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Isha Foundation,pointed out today that even Tamil Nadu Police’s status report noted the women were voluntarily residing at the ashram.
The court also spoke to the father and pointed out he could not “control” the lives of his grown children. In oral observations he was told to “win their confidence” instead of filing petitions.
