Synopsis: A Complaint was filed against Sadhguru by Prithivi Raj CN, member of the SPCA for unveiling a snake on October 9 at the event.
An animal rights group has filed a complaint against Jaggi Vasudev, known as Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation, for allegedly trapping, transporting, and displaying “rat snakes” during an event in Chikkaballapur on October 9.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other senior officials also attended the event.
The complaint was filed against Sadhguru by a member of the Prithvi Raj C N board of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) on October 15 with the Deputy Conservator of Forests, a copy of which has been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Prithvi Raj has said in a complaint that he has violated the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) of 1972. He added that the rat snake is protected under Act Scheduled-2.
In a complaint letter, he said, “Respected Sadhguru was displaying an illegally captured, inappropriately stored Rat Snake for N number of days, protected under Schedule-2.” The snake is displayed under blazing light on the stage in front of a crowd by Shri Sadhguru. This happened between October 9 and October 10.
He also added that even after proper investigation, the source of the snake could not be found and the rat snake displayed at the event had not been handed over to the forest officials to date.
Prithvi Raj also stated that the foundations violated other environmental laws while building the campus at Chikkaballapur. He requested the forest department to take action against Sadhguru.
In a press release, the Isha foundation clarified, “A snake entered Chikkaballapur during Naga Prathistha.” For the snake’s and people’s safety, Sadhguru handled it gently and asked it be left safely in a nearby forest. It was neither trapped nor transported nor harmed in any way. “Police at the venue were aware of the incident.”
On October 9, Sadhguru attended the event in Chikkabllapur to announce the new center of the Isha foundation in the state. A 112-ft-tall statue of Shiva is also under construction.
