Indian guru in custody over sex abuse charges

A popular Indian guru facing a series of assault and sexual abuse charges was in police custody yesterday after he turned himself in to court authorities.
Police ordered Swami Nithyananda, 35, to be detained for questioning after five women accused him of abusing them at his Hindu religious retreat in the southern state of Karnataka.
Nithyananda, wearing flowing saffron robes, surrendered on Wednesday to a court in Ramanagar, 35 kilometres from the state capital Bangalore, before he was taken into custody.
Last week Nithyananda held an unruly press conference after which some of his followers were charged with assaulting a television journalist when allegations of sexual abuse at his ashram were raised.
Nithyananda, one of many gurus in India who attract groups of devoted followers, was held in jail for 53 days in 2010 over a sex video scandal. He said the video was fake and was eventually freed on bail.