The Supreme Court of India remarked during a bail hearing that Vanuatu was not a country, questioning accused’s origin as Siddhartha Dave cited client’s nationality. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria examined IPC charges carefully.
NEW DELHI: During a bail hearing, the Supreme Court noted that there is no country named Vanuatu, an island nation located in the South Pacific.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria was considering a bail application from a national of Vanuatu, who was charged under Section 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 406 (criminal breach of trust), among other offenses under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Justice Mehta inquired of Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing the accused, about his client’s origin. The senior counsel stated that his client was from Vanuatu.
The judge responded,
“Have you been there? There is no country like that… This country is like Kailasa.”
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Kailasa is a self-declared Hindu micronation established in 2019 by the fugitive Indian guru Nithyananda.
In response, Dave remarked that
“the country was somewhere in the Caribbean.”
After being informed that the accused had used multiple identities, Justice Mehta humorously commented,
“We must consider research on this fellow.”
Ultimately, the bail application was dismissed as withdrawn.
Vanuatu and Kailasa
Vanuatu, formally known as the Republic of Vanuatu, is a Melanesian island nation situated in the South Pacific Ocean. Its name comes from the word vanua, meaning “land” or “home,” found in several Austronesian languages, combined with tu, meaning “to stand.”
Austronesian-speaking communities first settled in the islands nearly 4,000 years ago. In 1605, Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros became the first European to reach the region, believing it to be part of Terra Australis. Later, in the late eighteenth century, European contact increased after James Cook visited during his second voyage between 1772 and 1775 and named the islands the New Hebrides.
The concept of Kailasa arose after a godman named Nithyananda left India due to fear of legal action. After his departure, it is claimed that he purchased a private island “off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago or Ecuador which he named Kailasa.
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The name “Kailasa” is intended to recall the mythical home of Shiva in the Himalayas. However, since the precise location of this new Kailasa is unknown, it is unclear whether it resembles the traditional sacred landscape. What is known is that it is located on an island, suggesting that the reference is symbolic and metaphorical rather than geographical. As a member of the Shaiva tradition, Nithyananda’s choice of name reflects a spiritual and cultural connection to this sacred imagery.
Nithyananda, also known as “Paramahamsa” Nithyananda, is a self-proclaimed spiritual leader whose exact birthdate remains uncertain. A 2003 U.S. visa lists his birthdate as 13 March 1977, while a sworn affidavit submitted to a Karnataka court in 2010 states it as 1 January 1978. Although an Indian citizen, he has left the country and is currently living abroad due to multiple legal cases. He has previously been arrested on charges of rape and kidnapping.
Over time, Nithyananda appears to have developed ideas about how a nation should be created and governed. After leaving India, he reportedly acquired an island as part of his attempt to establish what he considers an ideal nation-state. This initiative reflects his broader vision of forming and sustaining a new political and spiritual entity.
At present, he serves as the Supreme Pontiff of Kailasa. He exercises central authority over governance, policy decisions, livelihood matters, and religious practices, all of which require his approval. He is also responsible for establishing various administrative bodies and is leading the development of Kailasa’s “Cosmic Constitution.”