'A Safe Space...': ISHA Foundation Responds to Tamil Nadu Police Status Report in SC

New Delhi: Amid rising controversies, Jaggi Vasudeva's Isha Foundation has responded to the Tamil Nadu Police's status report regarding a habeas corpus petition filed by a 70-year-old man. The petitioner accused the non-profit spiritual organization, founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, of detaining his two daughters, aged 42 and 39, against their will.

In its statement, the Isha Foundation emphasized, "Isha Foundation is a safe space for seekers from all over the world. People from various parts of India and numerous countries reside here. We are pleased that the Tamil Nadu Police's status report, submitted to the Supreme Court today, confirms that both female monks are living at the ashram of their own free will. They move freely, with one even recently participating in a 10 km marathon."

Addressing other concerns, the Foundation added, "We want to clarify that Isha Foundation is fully compliant with POSH regulations and has an active internal sexual harassment committee. Based on feedback from the Social Welfare Department, we made necessary improvements to our Internal Complaints Committee and have communicated the changes to the relevant authorities."

The Foundation also addressed the issue of missing persons: "The Tamil Nadu Police report confirmed that of the six people previously reported missing from Isha, five have been located. Regarding the one person still unaccounted for, we proactively filed a missing person complaint after notifying the family. We remain committed to supporting efforts to locate this individual and are hopeful for their safe return."

The Supreme Court of India has since dismissed the case filed against the Isha Foundation. The petitioner, who had initially approached the Madras High Court, claimed that his daughters—both holding master’s degrees in engineering—were being brainwashed by the spiritual center.

The controversy revolves around allegations of illegal detention and coercion, leading to the habeas corpus petition filed by Dr. S. Kamaraj, who accused the ashram of detaining his daughters in Coimbatore.