Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Court Stays Investigation into Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ashram Land Claims
The Karnataka High Court said it would pause a government plan to investigate the Art of Living Foundation for taking over land.
The court said the survey that found 291 acres of land were taken was not done correctly.
The foundation says it only uses part of the land it was given and that the investigation is unfair.
A team of investigators will look into the claims, but the court will wait until August 17 to decide again.
The case shows how courts can stop investigations if the process isn’t right.
Karnataka High Court stayed a government order forming a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged land encroachment by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation.
The stay follows an October 2025 survey claiming 291 acres of government land were encroached, but the court said the survey process was flawed and no joint survey was conducted with the trust.
The foundation disputes the allegations, stating it only occupies 36 of the 60 acres allotted to it and claims the proceedings are driven by malicious intent from an MLC.
The SIT, led by IAS officer Amlan Aditya Biswas, was created to investigate land grant violations, stormwater drain encroachment, and lake encroachment claims.
The case will be heard again on August 17, with the court ordering a stay until then.
- Who
- Justice E S Indiresh and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living Foundation
- What
- Court stay of a government order forming a Special Investigation Team over alleged land encroachment
- When
- Interim order issued July 31, 2026; next hearing scheduled August 17, 2026
- Where
- Karnataka, Bengaluru, Kaggalipura village
- Why
- Alleged encroachment of 291 acres and procedural flaws in the survey
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Order Date
- July 31, 2026
- Stay Duration
- Until next hearing on August 17, 2026
- Encroached Area
- 291 acres
- Foundation
- Art of Living Foundation
- SIT Leader
- Amlan Aditya Biswas