11 December 2023 7:45 UTC: From a reliable source we hear that “OIF has withdrawn the case from the Supreme Court.”

Special audit of Osho trust; plea to sell 2 plots rejected

Times of India, 11 December 2023, by Alim Shaikh

More articles in the media

• Osho foundation denied permission to sell 2 plots – by Nadeem Inamdar in Hindustan Times on 11 December 2023
• Pune News : Rebel group halts bid to sell two plots of Osho Ashram in Koregaon Park – in Pune Pulse on 11 December 2023
• Pune: Osho International Foundation denied permission to sell 2 plots – in Punekar News on 11 December 2023

The Osho International Foundation had put up the land in Pune’s Koregaon Park, measuring around 9,800 square metres, for sale.

In a major victory for the Osho rebel group, the office of the charity commissioner has rejected the application of the Osho International Foundation (OIF), which runs the Osho International Meditation Resort, to sell two key plots of land in the Koregaon Park area of Pune.

The trust belonging to the Bajaj family, which lives in Koregaon Park, had sought to purchase the two plots of land, measuring around 9,800 square metre, for Rs 107 crore.

In the order [PDF] passed on Saturday evening, Joint Charity Commissioner R U Malvankar, Mumbai, also directed the OIF “to refund the earnest amount of Rs 50 crore received from Rajivnayan Rahulkumar Bajaj and Rishab Family Trust without interest.”

The order stated, “The past record of OIF shows that the trustees are habitually dealing with the properties of the Trust. They are not serious with the funds and income of the Trust. They are making hasty decisions without taking any expert advice which are having long-term repercussions on the future financial independence of OIF as well as NSF. The sentiments of millions of disciples and Osho devotees are attached with OIF and NSF, Osho Samadhi and the overall property in question, which is surrounding Osho Samadhi.”

The Joint Charity Commissioner has also ordered a special audit of the OIF accounts from 2005 to 2023 by a team of two special auditors.

”The fees for the Special Audit shall be fixed for Rs 25,000/- per year or 1% of the gross Annual Income of OIF as per Rule 20 of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Rules, 1951, whichever is less. The trustees of OIF are directed to deposit an amount of Rs 2,25,000 provisionally in the PTA Fund to meet the cost thereof within 15 days from the date of this order,” said Malvankar in the order.

“The trustees, managers and/or any other person looking after the accounts of OIF shall make available all the records and Books of Accounts, Receipt Books, Vouchers, Ledgers etc. to the Special Auditors during the said period and shall cooperate with the Auditors in all respects. The Special Auditors shall submit their consolidated report to this Authority within a period of six months from the date of their appointment,” his order said.

The rebel group has said they came to know about the attempt to sell the plots by OIF in 2012 after it applied to the Joint Charity Commissioner’s Office.

”We, the rebel group, have succeeded in bringing to a halt the attempt made by the Osho International Foundation to wreck the legacy of our guru by trying to sell two crucial plots of land which are properties of the Osho Ashram. We have fought hard to preserve our guru’s legacy… It is a big moment for all of us,” said Yogesh Thakkar, one of those who objected to the sale of plots.

“We have won a major battle… Our Bosho pond will remain intact. Osho disciples all over the world are extremely pleased at this development… I have been getting calls from all over the world. They all want to come to Osho Ashram in Pune and enjoy the atmosphere here once again… They want to indulge in swimming meditation, floating meditation…,” said Swami Chaitanya Keerti, one of the intervenors in the matter.

In all, 26 disciples had objected to the sale of two plots.

Thakkar said they have also been objecting to the change in the name of the “Osho Ashram”.

“The OIF has changed the name of the Osho Ashram to Osho Resort. It is not a resort by any chance. We call it the Osho Ashram or the Osho International Commune. An attempt was made by the OIF to change the name and identity of the Osho Ashram. Such an attempt is nothing but an attempt to assassinate the character of a spiritual place. We will continue to fight against such attempts, we have won the first battle and there will be more such victories for the rebel group,” Thakkar said.

Thakkar said, “The decision of this matter hung on two prime parameters i.e. whether there is a necessity to sell this property and whether it is in the interest, and protection of the trust. After an intense few days of cross-examination followed by arguments, the Joint Charity Commissioner rejected the Osho International Foundation Trust’s application for the sale of Osho Basho.”

When contacted, Osho Resort spokesperson Amrit Sadhana told The Indian Express their application to sell the plots has been rejected. “We will follow the legal process in the matter,” said Sadhana without commenting further.

indianexpress.com by Manoj More – updated 10.12.2023: The previous version said sleeping instead of swimming meditation