Pune: Bombay High Court Rejects Osho International Foundation’s Plea to Sell Land, Upholds Special Audit Order
Koregaon Park, 10th April 2024: The Bombay High Court has dismissed the plea filed by the Osho International Foundation (OIF), which sought permission to sell the prime land owned by the Osho Ashram in Koregaon Park, Pune, for Rs 107 crore.
The foundation’s appeal challenged the December 2023 order of the Charity Commissioner, which had denied permission for the sale.
However, a bench comprising Justice Girish Kulkarni and Justice Firdosh Puniwala upheld the Charity Commissioner’s decision, citing the lack of compelling reasons provided by the organization for the sale.
The court also mandated the Osho International Foundation to refund the Rs 50 crore offered by Rajivnayan Rahul Kumar Bajaj and Rishabh Family Trust for the land, without any interest. Subsequently, the institution complied with the court’s directive by returning the amount.
Furthermore, the court shed light on the financial constraints faced by the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. The depletion of funds severely impacted the regular operations of the ashram, making it unfeasible to resume meditation activities in the foreseeable future. This financial strain also hampered the maintenance of the ashram and its property. Despite the foundation’s claim that the decision to sell the ashram site was prompted by these challenges, the court dismissed this justification.
In addition to rejecting the plea for land sale, the High Court affirmed the Charity Commissioner’s ruling to conduct a special audit of Osho International, the entity overseeing the Osho Ashram. The audit will be carried out by a team of two Special Auditors appointed by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Region, covering the period from 2005 to 2023. The court emphasized that the audit must be completed within one month from the date of the order, with trustees and managers instructed to cooperate fully by providing access to all relevant records and documents.
