Bengaluru: The founder of the Isha Foundation, Jaggi Vasudev, also known as Sadguru, is accused of illegally trapping, transporting, and displaying a rat snake on October 9 during a gathering in Chikkaballapura. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and other top officials attended the event.
Board member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Prathivi Raj C.N. filed a complaint with the Deputy Conservator of Forests on Saturday, and a copy of the complaint was also sent to the office of the Deputy Commissioner. By displaying the rat snake at the event, Vasudev allegedly violated the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, stated Raj’s complaint. Schedule 2 of the Act provides protection for the rat snake.
“The snake was displayed under blazing lights on the stage in front of a crowd by Sadhguru to promote his programme. The source of the snake is yet to be ascertained through a proper probe. It has not been handed over to the Forest Department till date,” Raj said in his complaint.
The organisation said that while they are not against Sadhguru, he should be responsible as he has many followers and it should not be taken as an inspiration for others to do the same. He added that the foundation had broken other environmental rules while constructing the Chikkaballapura premises.
