Sadhguru Controversy 2026 Verified Facts
Sadhguru controversy 2026 has brought renewed attention to one of India’s most recognizable spiritual organizations. But to understand the present, you have to go back to the beginning.
In the early 1990s, a man with a flowing beard rode his motorcycle to the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains near Coimbatore, found a quiet spot, and began teaching yoga to a small group of local residents. This is how the Isha Foundation began.
Over three decades later, that quiet beginning has grown into one of India’s most recognizable and most debated spiritual organizations. Sadhguru and Isha Foundation today operate across 300 centers worldwide, supported by 17 million volunteers. The founder has received India’s second-highest civilian award, has addressed the United Nations, and has led environmental campaigns that reached over 4 billion people globally. He has also faced Supreme Court proceedings, police investigations, and a defamation case before the Delhi High Court.
This article traces the journey of Sadhguru and Isha Foundation across both dimensions, the humanitarian work and the legal controversies, presenting only what is verified from confirmed sources.
Sadhguru & Isha Foundation – Key Controversies in 2025 & 2026
What Legal Controversies Has Isha Foundation Faced
Between 2024 and 2026, Isha Foundation faced three distinct legal matters: a habeas corpus petition regarding two women monks living at the ashram, a police investigation into allegations of misconduct toward minors, and a separately confirmed pending POCSO case against a doctor affiliated with Isha Outreach.
National Herald India reports that in February 2024, YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh uploaded a video alleging sexual misconduct at the Isha Foundation. The video received 937,000 views and 13,000 comments by March 2025, when the Delhi High Court under Justice Subramonium Prasad ordered the video removed from YouTube, Google, X, and Meta, describing Singh’s claims as “false, reckless, baseless, and per se defamatory.”
A complaint filed by activist Piyush Manush triggered a Tamil Nadu Police investigation. On June 20, 2025, Coimbatore Police filed a closure report after interviewing 61 students, 13 staff members, and other witnesses, none of whom corroborated the allegations. The cyber wing found the supposed leaked emails cited in the video lacked verifiable login activity and contained improbable content.
The Print reports separately on the habeas corpus petition filed by retired professor S. Kamaraj alleging his two daughters, aged 38 and 42, were held at the ashram against their will. The women appeared before the Supreme Court, denied the allegations, and confirmed they were living at the ashram voluntarily.
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, closed the habeas corpus petition in view of their statements. During those same proceedings, the Chief Justice noted a separate and distinct matter: a POCSO case against a doctor affiliated with Isha Outreach, charged with alleged molestation of 12 girls from a local Adivasi government school. The Print confirmed this POCSO case is pending trial before a court in Coimbatore. This case is separate from all the above proceedings and has not been closed.
How Has Isha Foundation Addressed Defamation and AI Misuse
Between 2025 and 2026, the Delhi High Court provided two significant legal protections to Sadhguru and Isha Foundation: a defamation order against Tamil magazine Nakkheeran, and a personality rights order protecting against unauthorized AI-generated deepfake content.
Wikipedia’s article on Isha Foundation confirms that on March 19, 2026, the Delhi High Court directed Tamil magazine Nakkheeran to remove defamatory content against Isha Foundation and Sadhguru.
The court refused to dismiss the defamation suit at the initial stage, allowing the case to proceed. Separately, the Delhi High Court has protected Sadhguru’s personality rights against AI-generated deepfakes, ordering rogue websites to disable unauthorized content using his likeness to peddle misleading information.
Business Standard reports a further political controversy: in 2026, the RJD questioned the Bihar government’s decision to lease 15 acres of land in Munger to Isha Foundation for 99 years at Re 1 per acre, alleging the government had spent approximately Rs 2.64 crore to acquire the land. The foundation has not publicly responded in detail to this specific controversy.
Separately, in 2021, Sadhguru’s call to free the temples in Tamil Nadu drew political criticism from then-DMK minister Dr P. Thiaga Rajan, and his description of the Ram Mandir as a civilisational milestone drew responses from multiple political quarters.
How Did Sadhguru and Isha Foundation Begin
Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev founded the Isha Foundation in 1992 near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after teaching yoga since 1982. In 1994 he purchased land near the Velliangiri Mountains and inaugurated the Isha Yoga Center, which has since grown into a 150-acre campus.
According to Wikipedia’s article on Sadhguru, Vasudev began teaching yoga in 1982 and established the Isha Foundation in 1992 as a platform for his spiritual, environmental, and educational activities. In 1994 he purchased land near the Velliangiri mountains in Coimbatore and inaugurated the Isha Yoga Center. The foundation’s activities are run mostly by volunteers and the word Isha, according to Sadhguru, means “the formless divine.”
Isha Foundation’s centers page confirms that Isha is today supported by over 17 million volunteers worldwide across more than 300 centers. The most prominent are the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, the Sadhguru Sannidhi in Bengaluru, and international centers at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences in Tennessee and the Isha Yoga Center in Los Angeles.
The ashram in Coimbatore sees a footfall of at least 7,000 at any given time. The foundation’s offerings include Inner Engineering, Shambhavi Mahamudra practice, Bhava Spandana, and Samyama, programs that Sadhguru describes as tools for raising human consciousness through classical yoga, meditation, and Indian classical arts.
What Humanitarian Work Has Sadhguru and Isha Foundation Done
Isha Foundation’s humanitarian work spans environmental conservation, rural healthcare, and education, with programs collectively reaching over 7 million people in 4,600 villages, planting 134 million trees, and contributing to national river policy in India.
Times of India reports that in May 2025, the Canada India Foundation conferred on Sadhguru the Global Indian of the Year award, including a CAD 50,000 prize that he dedicated entirely to Cauvery Calling. This followed his Padma Vibhushan in 2017 and the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 2010 for environmental work.
Conscious Planet documents the Cauvery Calling campaign as the world’s largest farmer-driven ecological movement, aiming to support 5.2 million farmers to plant 2.42 billion trees in the Cauvery basin over 12 years. As of the latest available data, 134 million living trees have been planted and 259,702 farmers have shifted to tree-based agriculture. The initiative contributed to the Indian government allocating Rs 19,000 crore to revitalize 13 rivers in line with its draft policy recommendations. Isha Foundation has UNCCD accreditation and observer status with the UN Environment Assembly.
What Are the Major Environmental Campaigns Isha Foundation Has Led
The three major environmental campaigns are Rally for Rivers launched in 2017, Cauvery Calling launched in 2019, and Save Soil launched in 2022, together reaching hundreds of millions of people and influencing policy in over 190 countries.
According to Wikipedia’s article on Sadhguru, Rally for Rivers saw Sadhguru drive over 9,300 km through 16 states in 2017 to raise awareness about India’s depleting rivers, garnering support from 162 million people and being credited with framing India’s first national river revitalization policy. In 2022, Sadhguru completed a 100-day motorcycle journey from London to India for the Save Soil campaign, which ultimately reached over 4.1 billion people and made draft policy recommendations available to 193 countries.
Isha Foundation’s official about page confirms that Project GreenHands aims to increase Tamil Nadu’s green cover by 10 percent through reforestation involving over 2 million volunteers. Action for Rural Rejuvenation provides free medical care and community rehabilitation reaching more than 7 million people in 4,600 villages in Southern India. Isha Vidhya runs nine schools benefiting 6,415 rural students, with 48 percent being girl students and over 5,500 students on full scholarship.
For more on how spiritual institutions are shaping wellness in India today, read our piece on spiritual practices trending in 2026.
What Awards and Recognition Has Sadhguru Received
Sadhguru has received the Padma Vibhushan in 2017, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 2010, the Global Indian of the Year award in 2025, and has authored two New York Times bestsellers, while Isha Foundation holds accreditation from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Times of India confirms the Canada India Foundation presented Sadhguru with the Global Indian of the Year award in May 2025, noting it recognizes extraordinary contributions to global progress, human wellbeing, and the enduring values of Indian civilization. He donated the CAD 50,000 prize to Cauvery Calling.
Wikipedia confirms the Padma Vibhushan was awarded in 2017 in recognition of his contribution to spirituality and humanitarian services. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy and Karma: A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, and is a frequent speaker at the World Economic Forum and United Nations. He stood 40th in India Today’s list of fifty most powerful Indians in 2019.
For context on how spiritual leaders like Sadhguru are shaping the search for meaning among young Indians, read our Guru Purnima 2026 meditation guide.
Isha Foundation at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev |
| Year Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| Global Reach | 300+ centers, 17 million+ volunteers |
| Healthcare Impact | 7 million+ people in 4,600 villages |
| Environmental Impact | 134 million trees planted, 259,702 farmers supported, 4.1 billion people reached by Save Soil |
| Awards | Padma Vibhushan 2017, Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar 2010, Global Indian of the Year 2025 |
| UN Recognition | UNCCD accreditation, UNEA observer status |
| Legal Status | Police closure report filed June 2025 in YouTuber allegations case; separate POCSO case against affiliated doctor pending trial |
Key Takeaways on Sadhguru Controversies
- Sadhguru founded the Isha Foundation in 1992 near Coimbatore after teaching yoga since 1982. The organization today operates 300+ centers with 17 million volunteers globally. (Source: Wikipedia)
- Cauvery Calling has planted 134 million trees, supported 259,702 farmers, and contributed to Rs 19,000 crore being allocated for river revival by the Indian government. (Source: Conscious Planet)
- The Save Soil campaign reached over 4.1 billion people in a 100-day motorcycle journey from London to India in 2022, with policy recommendations submitted to 193 countries. (Source: Wikipedia)
- Tamil Nadu Police filed a closure report on June 20, 2025, finding no corroboration for the sexual misconduct allegations made in YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh’s video. The Delhi High Court had already described his claims as false, reckless, and per se defamatory. (Source: National Herald India)
- A separate POCSO case against a doctor affiliated with Isha Outreach is confirmed pending trial in a Coimbatore court. This case is distinct from the YouTuber allegations and has not been closed. (Source: The Print)
- Sadhguru received the Padma Vibhushan in 2017 and the Global Indian of the Year award in 2025, donated the CAD 50,000 prize to Cauvery Calling, and has authored two New York Times bestselling books. (Source: Times of India)
FAQs on Sadhguru controversy 2026
When did Sadhguru found the Isha Foundation?
Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev founded the Isha Foundation in 1992 near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after teaching yoga since 1982. He inaugurated the Isha Yoga Center in 1994 after purchasing land near the Velliangiri Mountains. The foundation today operates 300+ centers worldwide supported by 17 million volunteers.
What is Cauvery Calling and what has it achieved?
Cauvery Calling is described as the world’s largest farmer-driven ecological movement, aiming to support 5.2 million farmers to plant 2.42 billion trees in the Cauvery basin over 12 years. As of the latest available data, 134 million living trees have been planted, 259,702 farmers have shifted to tree-based agriculture, and the initiative contributed to the Indian government allocating Rs 19,000 crore for river revitalization.
What happened with the sexual abuse allegations against Isha Foundation?
In February 2024, YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh uploaded a video making allegations about Isha Foundation. The Delhi High Court ordered the video removed in March 2025, describing the claims as false, reckless, and per se defamatory. Tamil Nadu Police filed a closure report on June 20, 2025, after interviewing 61 students and 13 staff, none of whom corroborated the allegations. A separate POCSO case against a doctor affiliated with Isha Outreach remains pending trial in a Coimbatore court.
What awards has Sadhguru received?
Sadhguru has received the Padma Vibhushan in 2017, India’s second-highest civilian award, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 2010 for environmental work, and the Global Indian of the Year award from the Canada India Foundation in 2025. He is also the author of two New York Times bestsellers and holds UNCCD accreditation for Isha Foundation.
What is the Save Soil campaign?
Save Soil is a global movement launched by Sadhguru in 2022 through a 100-day motorcycle journey from London to India. The campaign reached over 4.1 billion people and made draft policy recommendations available to 193 countries, contributing to soil conservation policy in the EU, USA, and Central Asia.
References
- Wikipedia. (2026). Sadhguru. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhguru
- Isha Foundation. (2026). Isha Main Centers. https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/center
- Times of India. (2025, May 25). Sadhguru conferred with Global Indian of the Year award by Canada India Foundation. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sadhguru-conferred-with-global-indian-of-the-year-award-by-canada-india-foundation/articleshow/121413510.cms
- Conscious Planet. (2026). Cauvery Calling. https://consciousplanet.org/en/cauvery-calling
- Isha Foundation. (2026). About Isha Foundation. https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/about-isha-foundation
- National Herald India. (2025, July 1). Police gives Isha Foundation clean chit in sexual abuse case. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/police-gives-sadhgurus-isha-foundation-clean-chit-in-sexual-abuse-case
- The Print. (2024, October 4). Before SC relief to Sadhguru, here’s what TN police told court about the 2 sisters at centre of case. https://theprint.in/judiciary/before-sc-relief-to-sadhguru-heres-what-tn-police-told-court-about-the-2-sisters-at-centre-of-case/2318254/
- Wikipedia. (2026). Isha Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isha_Foundation
- Business Standard. (2024, October 3). Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation challenges Madras HC order in Supreme Court. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/sadhguru-s-isha-foundation-challenges-madras-hc-order-in-supreme-court-124100300373_1.html
