Nityananda’s sexual romps, More actresses in the net.

Self-styled godman Nityananda Swamy has gone “missing” after video footage of his alleged sleazy acts with actress Ranjitha were aired on a leading Tamil TV channel in Chennai, which were dismissed by his ashram as “morphed images”.

Even as his ashram and some followers insisted that Nityananda was an innocent victim of an elaborate conspiracy to hurt Hinduism, people behind the “sting” operation are said to be ready to put out at least two more DVDs showing more explicit bedroom scenes involving the youthful swami.

“We have no doubt, absolutely, regarding the authenticity of the first tape. We have tested it comprehensively,” said an official source, when asked to comment on the ashram’s claim about the swami’s divinity.

The ashram has issued a statement insisting that the video was fake and threatened legal action. It also sought to limit the damage by getting the YouTube to withdraw the explicit bedroom scene, running to about 22 minutes.

“This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Nityananda Dhyanapeetam,” said the posting on the website.

Actress Ranjitha is said to be a divorcee. Introduced by the celebrated director Bharatiraja in Naadodi Thendral years ago, she had done lead roles in quite a few films, including Jai Hindi and Amaidhi Padai.

The Chief Minister, Dr M. Karunanidhi’s announcement in Trichy that the government will conduct an investigation into the godman’s scams was apparently supported by fore knowledge about the tape. Sources said the secret camera that had shot the intimate bedroom scenes involving the swami and actress Ranjitha might have been set up by a disgruntled ashram inmate.

In Hyderabad, a chief volunteer of the Swamy’s meditation programmes said, “We are waiting for an official statement from the Ashram in Bengaluru.”

Nitayananda Swamy was in Hyderabad on September 13, 2009 to conduct Kalpataru, a one-day meditation programme, at Shilpa Kala Vedika. He again conducted a four-day meditation workshop between February 4 and 7 this year at Shilparamam. (DC)