The Supreme Court issued a stay on Thursday regarding the Madras High Court's directive for an investigation into Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation.

This stay came after the foundation challenged the Madras High Court's order, which instructed the Tamil Nadu government to provide information about all criminal cases filed against it.

"We stay the directions of the High Court to the police," the Court said.

The stay was granted after Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi brought the matter to the attention of the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

"These are issues of religious freedom. This is a very urgent and serious case. This is about Isha Foundation, there is Sadguru who is very revered and has lakhs of followers. High Court cannot start such enquiries on oral assertions," he stated.

The High Court's order was issued in response to a habeas corpus petition filed by S. Kamaraj, a retired professor from Coimbatore. Kamaraj alleged that his two "well-educated" daughters, aged 42 and 39, had been "brainwashed" into residing at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore and were not allowed to maintain contact with their family. He also informed the court about several pending criminal cases and allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against the Foundation.

The High Court noted that, given the multiple criminal complaints against the Foundation, the matter warranted further examination.

Additionally, the court raised concerns about why Jaggi Vasudev had allowed his daughter to marry and lead a settled life while encouraging other women to renounce material pursuits.

“We want to know why a person who had given his daughter in marriage and made her settle well in life is encouraging the daughters of others to tonsure their heads and live the life of a hermitess. That is the doubt,” the Bench orally remarked.

This prompted the High Court to issue directions against the Isha Foundation, leading to the appeal before the Supreme Court.