HC says no to shifting Daati’s probe to CBI

◗ Daati Maharaj is accused of repeatedly raping a disciple in one of his ashrams for over two years

New Delhi, July 11: The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea by an NGO seeking transfer of the investigation from the police to CBI in a case of alleged rape against preacher Daati Maharaj.

Justice Mukta Gupta said the NGO was not the victim in the case and had no locus standi in the criminal matter. The court said the NGO had initially filed the plea as a PIL, which was not entertained by the bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice and treated as a criminal writ petition.

“What is the locus of an NGO in a criminal trial? A victim or accused is most welcome to the court and action will be taken on their petition. What is your locus,” Justice Gupta asked.

The court suggested the complainant to withdraw it with a liberty to file it along with the victim’s affidavit.

Advocate J. Tuli, appearing for NGO Delhi Citizen Forum for Civil Rights, twithdrew the petition. A complaint was lodged against Daati Madan Lal alias Daati Maharaj on June 7 and an FIR was lodged by Delhi police on June 11. The police had on June 22 questioned the accused, who has been charged with raping a disciple at his ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan.

Earlier, a police team along with the woman, had visited the ashram in Pali, Rajasthan, to gather evidence, but failed to find the accused there.