HC RAPS GODMAN’S LAWYER FOR CALLING WOMEN ‘GATEWAY TO HELL’
CBI issues lookout circular against self-styled godman Virender Dev Dixit
NEW DELHI: A remark by the counsel of self-styled godman Virender Dev Dixit, claiming that “women are a gateway to hell,” irked the Delhi High Court bench on Monday, which ordered the counsel to leave the courtroom.
Meanwhile, a lookout circular (LOC) was issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday against Dixit, who allegedly kept women and girls confined in his Rohini ashram, ‘Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya'.
In the high court, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked the counsel for the Rohini-based ashram why women and girls were kept captive in the ashram.
Replying to the court's query, Dixit's counsel said that Shankaracharya's had said, "Nari nark ka dwar hai (Women are a gateway to hell)."
Enraged, the bench said, “This is courtroom. This is not your spiritual class,” and told him to leave the courtroom.
The court listed the matter for February 8, asking the Rohini-based ashram to respond to using the word Vishwa Vidyalaya (university) for a spiritual institute.
Raising questions on the legality of using Vishwa Vidyalaya, the court cited the University Grants Commission Act and said that 'University' means an institute established or incorporated by or under a central act, a provincial act or a state act.
When the court asked whether the institute followed the norms prescribed by the UGC, the ashram's counsel failed to give a satisfactory reply and sought more time.
Referring to the CBI'S LOC, the bench also asked the counsel whether Dixit had joined the CBI investigation into the running of his ashrams, as well as the complaints against him.
Earlier, the high court had transferred the case from Delhi Police to the CBI and asked the agency to forthwith set up a special investigation team to probe various FIRS of girls and women who were allegedly lured into the ashram on the pretext of spiritual guidance but then raped.
The court, in December 2017, had appointed a committee to inspect the institute and directed an officer, not below the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, to conduct an inspection of the ashram.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Jai Hind was a part of the inspection team during the raids.
On her Twitter, Jai Hind wrote on Monday, “Lawyer of fraud godman Virender Dev stated in open court today dat ‘Women are way to hell'. Was so infuriating that I couldn't help screaming at him in open court. Due 2 their pervert minds, they cage women & girls and exploit them. He was asked to immediately leave by the Court!”