Supreme Court Stays Probe Order Against Isha Foundation

On Thursday, the Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court's order directing a probe against spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation, located in Thondamuthur, Coimbatore. The Supreme Court has now taken the matter into its hands after the foundation challenged the High Court's September 30 order, which directed the police to investigate allegations of illegal confinement at the ashram.

The investigation had escalated on Tuesday when a team of 150 police officers entered the ashram for a search operation. This action followed the High Court's directive to probe claims that individuals were being held against their will at the ashram.

During the Supreme Court hearing, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, spoke to two women who confirmed they were staying at the ashram of their own free will. The women clarified that there was no force or coercion involved in their stay, and they were free to leave at any time. The Supreme Court bench also noted that the police had vacated the premises by Wednesday night.

The case will now proceed under the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.