Bangalore: The story of Nithyananda, revered as a spiritual leader by many, continues to have its dramatic ups and downs. Today - a court in Ramanagaram in Karnataka granted him conditional bail - he had been arrested a day earlier when he unexpectedly surfaced at the same court. Nithyananda was charged with assault - but all the charges against him were bailable, said assistant public prosecutor Mohan Kumar who filed objections to the bail on behalf of the state. 

Nithyananda does claim millions of followers around the globe, but he really shot into national prominence in 2010 when an alleged sex tape featuring him and an actress was played on a local channel. After this, Nithyananda left his ashram in Bidadi outside Bangalore - only to be arrested from Himachal Pradesh days later on charges as serious as rape.

He was later released on bail on those charges.