Bolivia deports 20 ‘citizens’ of Nithyananda’s Kailasa for grabbing indigenous land
The Ministry of Immigration in Bolivia, on Tuesday, March 25, said it has deported 20 members of Kailasa, a fictional ‘country’ founded by Nityananda, an absconding conman accused of sexual abuse. The country said that the members allegedly attempted to seize land belonging to the indigenous community in Bolivia. “This sect entered Bolivia as tourists, arriving at different times through various entry points. Some individuals had been in Bolivia since November 2024, while the majority entered in January 2025,” Bolivia’s Immigration Director Katherine Calderón said addressing a press conference. Self-styled godman Nithyananda ran several ashrams in the country, and is accused of sexual assault and abuse. In November 2019, Gujarat police were investigating allegations of the kidnapping of a child in his ashram, when he absconded. Soon after his disappearance, he claimed to have ‘founded’ the nation of Kailasa at an unknown location. However, there are speculations that he’s based on an island off the coast of Ecuador. According to reports, the deportation by Bolivia comes after an investigative report by the Bolivian newspaper El Deber on March 16 that revealed that three Bolivian indigenous groups signed lease agreements with Kailasa for around 4.8 lakh hectares of public land. According to Minister of Government of Bolivia Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio, Nithyananda’s fictitious nation signed the leases with the indigenous communities of Bauer, Cayuba and Esse Eha for 1,000 years. “As per the agreement, the United States of Kailasa will have all rights to resources within the land and is guaranteed full autonomy with the territory. As per the agreement the fictitious United States of Kailasa agreed to pay $108,000 per year,” he said. A journalist called Silvana Vincenti from El Deber exposed this activity and received threats from local and international phone numbers. “The Bolivian government and CIDOB (Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia) said that the contract is not valid and that the indigenous people do not have the right to do trade with a fictitious country. Under the current law foreigners cannot acquire land in the Amazon region as per the Bolivian Agriculture and Land Development minister Yamil Elones,” he said. “This sect has come to our country and has tried to violate the good faith of our indigenous population and also violate their rights. They attempted to deceive them to acquire the use and benefit of lands belonging to the Plurinational State of Bolivia,” Katherine Calderón said. While three persons were intercepted in the municipality of Exaltación, the other 17 were found in Santa Cruz. The individuals did not comply with the purpose of their entry into Bolivia and were staying in the country illegally. “Consequently, an order for their compulsory departure was issued, requiring them to leave Bolivia immediately. This was implemented over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday,” she said. She also emphasised that the Bolivian government has “no ties or relationship with this so-called ‘Kailasa Nation’.” A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in 2010 by the Karnataka sessions court. Based on a complaint filed by his former driver Lenin, Nithyananda was arrested and later released on bail. However, in 2020, the bail was cancelled when Lenin filed a petition pointing out that Nithyananda had fled the country. There have been charges of torture and child abuse at the godman’s Gujarat ashram as well.Read: Timeline: The rise, fall and image rehabilitation of rape accused godman Nithyananda
THE Ministry of Immigration in Bolivia, on Tuesday, March 25, said it has deported 20 members of Kailasa, a fictional ‘country’ founded by Nityananda, an absconding conman accused of sexual abuse.
The country said that the members allegedly attempted to seize land belonging to the indigenous community in Bolivia.
“This sect entered Bolivia as tourists, arriving at different times through various entry points. Some individuals had been in Bolivia since November 2024, while the majority entered in January 2025,” Bolivia’s Immigration Director Katherine Calderón said addressing a press conference.
Self-styled godman Nithyananda ran several ashrams in the country, and is accused of sexual assault and abuse.
In November 2019, Gujarat police were investigating allegations of the kidnapping of a child in his ashram, when he absconded. Soon after his disappearance, he claimed to have ‘founded’ the nation of Kailasa at an unknown location. However, there are speculations that he’s based on an island off the coast of Ecuador.
According to reports, the deportation by Bolivia comes after an investigative report by the Bolivian newspaper El Deber on March 16 that revealed that three Bolivian indigenous groups signed lease agreements with Kailasa for around 4.8 lakh hectares of public land.
According to Minister of Government of Bolivia Eduardo Del Castillo Del Carpio, Nithyananda’s fictitious nation signed the leases with the indigenous communities of Bauer, Cayuba and Esse Eha for 1,000 years.
“As per the agreement, the United States of Kailasa will have all rights to resources within the land and is guaranteed full autonomy with the territory. As per the agreement the fictitious United States of Kailasa agreed to pay $108,000 per year,” he said.
A journalist called Silvana Vincenti from El Deber exposed this activity and received threats from local and international phone numbers.
“The Bolivian government and CIDOB (Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia) said that the contract is not valid and that the indigenous people do not have the right to do trade with a fictitious country. Under the current law foreigners cannot acquire land in the Amazon region as per the Bolivian Agriculture and Land Development minister Yamil Elones,” he said.
“This sect has come to our country and has tried to violate the good faith of our indigenous population and also violate their rights. They attempted to deceive them to acquire the use and benefit of lands belonging to the Plurinational State of Bolivia,” Katherine Calderón said.
While three peopel were intercepted in the municipality of Exaltación, the other 17 were found in Santa Cruz. The individuals did not comply with the purpose of their entry into Bolivia and were staying in the country illegally.
“Consequently, an order for their compulsory departure was issued, requiring them to leave Bolivia immediately. This was implemented over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday,” she said.
She also emphasised that the Bolivian government has “no ties or relationship with this so-called ‘Kailasa Nation’.”
A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in 2010 by the Karnataka sessions court. Based on a complaint filed by his former driver Lenin, Nithyananda was arrested and later released on bail. However, in 2020, the bail was cancelled when Lenin filed a petition pointing out that Nithyananda had fled the country. There have been charges of torture and child abuse at the godman’s Gujarat ashram as well.
Read: Timeline: The rise, fall and image rehabilitation of rape accused godman Nithyananda
