The self-styled godman fled India after being accused of rape, kidnapping and torture. (Photo: nithyanandapedia.org)

As coronavirus panic grips the entire world, one man seems to be having the last laugh.

With more than 1,60,000 people being infected by Covid-19 across the world, countries are stressing on social distancing (steps taken to reduce the probability of contact between infected persons and others) as the only effective method of containing the viral pandemic.

One man claims to have already pioneered the technique. He is self-styled godman Nithyananda Paramasivam.

"Some Indian people had laughed and mocked me when I isolated myself by creating the new country as Kailasaa. Now, the whole world is talking about social distancing. Lord Paramasivam has saved us. Power of God," he said.

Nithyananda has been practising self-isolation for quite some time now. Not because of coronavirus but because he is a fugitive.

The self-styled godman fled India after being accused of rape, kidnapping and torture. He also has an Interpol Blue Corner Notice issued against him.

Taking things to the next level, he bought an island in Ecuador, set up his own nation and named it Kailasaa and became the prime minister of the island nation.

Earlier, video ads doing the rounds on social media claimed that Nithyananda can cure the coronavirus outbreak that has killed thousands around the world.

Nithyananda, whose main ashram is in Bidadi in Karnataka, and two of his disciples were booked on charges of kidnapping and keeping children in wrongful confinement at an ashram in Ahmedabad. The two disciples have been arrested.

The controversial godman had fled the country last year and the Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice to locate him.