Ahmedabad: A court in Gujarat rejected the bail plea of two disciples of self-styled godman Nithyananda. The Nithyananda followers were arrested on charges of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children at an ashram.

Judicial Magistrate Garima Yadav rejected the bail pleas of Pran Priyananda and Priyatatva Riddhi Kiran who ran Nithyananda's ashram 'Yogini Sarvagyapeetham' in Ahmedabad. The police had opposed their bail plea claiming the duo were well-connected and could hamper investigations if released. Police also told court that main accused Nithyananda was yet to be nabbed.

The accused were arrested on November 20 for allegedly kidnapping and keeping children in wrongful confinement and using them as labourers to collect donation from followers.

Nithyananda was also booked on the same charges after four children told police they were confined in a flat and made to work at the ashram.