PIL moved in HC to shift Daati Maharaj case to CBI
A plea was filed in the high court on Monday, seeking transfer of the probe to CBI in a rape case against self- styled godman Daati Maharaj.
The petition was filed by an NGO alleging that the investigation carried out by Delhi police seemed to be “biased and unfair” as no arrest has been made so far, which could lead to influencing of witnesses and destruction of evidence. It is likely to come up for hearing on July 4.
The plea was filed by advocates Joginder Tuli and Joshini Tuli of NGO Delhi Citizen Forum for Civil Rights, claiming that the chances of the accused leaving the country also cannot be ruled out.
A complaint was lodged against Daati Madan Lal, alias Daati Maharaj on June 7 and an FIR was registered on June 11. So far, the police in the case had questioned Daati Maharaj, and charged him for raping a disciple in his ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan, on June 22.
The woman had filed the complaint against the godman, his three brothers and a woman at the Fatehpur Beri police station in south Delhi. The case was later transferred to the crime branch.
The petition has claimed that the accused and his associates were interrogated by the crime branch on different dates but were not arrested.
It said the FIR against him as been registered for alleged heinous offences of rape, unnatural sex, molestation and common intention under the IPC.
“A number of politicians and senior officers of the government ( Centre and state) are regular visitors of Shani Dham ( ashram), Fatehpur Beri, New Delhi. Hence fair investigation by the Crime Branch cannot be assured,” it alleged.