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Bengaluru Yoga Coach Arrested on Charges of Sexually Assaulting Minor Student

An August 30 complaint by a student who says the abuse began at 17 led police to book M. Niranjana Murthy under POCSO and BNS.

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Bengaluru Yoga Guru f M. Niranjana Murthy
On August 22, the accused allegedly attempted similar physical contact under the pretext of arranging a state-level placement.

Overview

  • Rajarajeshwari Nagar police arrested the 55-year-old Sunshine The Yoga Zone founder on September 17 after a search, saying he had gone into hiding once the case was registered.
  • The FIR alleges the first abuse occurred during a 2023 trip to Thailand when the complainant was 17, with subsequent harassment at his Bengaluru institute in August 2025 tied to promises of medals and placements.
  • Murthy has been booked under BNS Sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means) and 75(2) (sexual harassment), and Section 12 of the POCSO Act.
  • Investigators have seized his mobile phone, and police sources say a related video was recovered as they examine whether more women were targeted and urge others to file complaints.
  • Murthy is a prominent figure in Karnataka’s yoga community, serving as secretary of the state association and leading national teams, which has heightened scrutiny of the case.