Controversial godman Swami Nithyananda, who was involved in a sex scandal with an actress many years ago, has reportedly left the country. As per the Gujarat Police, he is not in India for them to arrest him in an abduction case.

Earlier this week, an FIR was lodged by a couple against Nithyananda's ashram for illegally confining their two minor daughters. The godman's ashrams have been accused of using children for garnering donations from disciples.

The Gujarat Police are reportedly in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn is said to be trying to locate Nithyananda.

However, senior journalist DP Satish says that the godman can't leave India for a technical reason. "Officially Nithyananda can't travel abroad. In 2018, SP Ramanagara district had rejected his Passport renewal application on the grounds that he is facing serious criminal cases. If he has actually fled, how did he manage that? Fake Passport or Passport of some other country?" he asks.

If Nithyananda has indeed fled India, it is a reminder of what criminals like Vijay Mallya have achieved.