BANGALORE, India, (Reuters Life!) – A Hindu holy  man with thousands of followers across India resigned as head  of a religious organisation yesterday after police began  investigating his role in a sex scandal, officials said.

Video footage allegedly showing Nithyananda Swami, head of  Dhyanapeetam, or “knowledge centre”, frolicking with two women  angered hundreds of devotees who tried to ransack his centre  outside the southern city of Bangalore this month.

The 32-year-old has denied any links to the women and said  the tapes were doctored, but the police are investigating and  have asked people to come forward with evidence.

This month has been particularly bad for India’s  self-styled holy men with Indian police arresting one for  running a brothel involving air stewardesses and college  students, while charging another with kidnapping a minor.

Nithyananda Swami, who has big politicians and movie stars  as devotees, announced his resignation in a statement.

“I have decided to live a life of spiritual seclusion, for  some indefinite time…,” he said on his website.

Nithyananda Swami has spiritual centres in Europe and  United States and Dhyanapeetam runs free medical centres and  supplies food to the poor.