Vancouver Province

Self-styled Indian “Godman” Swami Nityananda, who has a huge following in Greater Vancouver, has assured his devotees he is “innocent” after after video footage of his alleged sex scandal involving an actress was aired on Indian TV.

Nityananda appeared on his official website to convince wellwishers and devotees he is not involved in anything illegal.

“I assure all of you that nothing illegal has been done by me or my organization. We are in the process of collecting evidence to establish this lie and the motive behind this false campaign.”

Swami Nityananda has a worldwide following in Canada, Asia, Central America and Australia.

In Vancouver his followers have established the Life Bliss Centre on West Broadway. They gather every week in Surrey, North Vancouver and Burnaby.

“He has a lot of followers in the Vancouver area…many of them have given money to him,” said a South Asian restaurant owner.

“Some say he is a fraud…others think he is being set up,” he said.

The 32-year-old popular spiritual and mystic guru is the founder of Dhyanapeetam, a worldwide movement for meditation and healing.