Do not think anything unlawful happened at ashram: Oomen Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said he did not think that anything unlawful had happened at the 'mutt' of Mata Amritanandamayi here, as has been claimed by the author of a recent book.

"I do not think anything took place at the mutt (which is)against the law of the land. People have to consider the services provided by the mutt to society and not the charges against it," he told reporters at Sulthan Batheri near Kozhikode. "As one who has witnessed and participated in its services, it is not possible for the public to ignore the great work done by the mutt," Chandy added.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has termed the charges against the mutt serious and demanded that an inquiry be held into the same.

Australian-born Gail Tredwell in her book, 'Holy Hell - A Memoir of Faith, Devotion and Pure Madness', has claimed she had lived in the ashram for many years, but had left after some bitter experiences. Police recently registered a case under IT Act against those who had posted adverse comments in the social media based on the contents of the said book.

Following complaints lodged by some of her devotees, the case was registered at Karunagapally, close to the ashram's headquarters of Amritapuri at Vallikkavu. The ashram has refrained from issuing any official statement or clarification in the matter.