Rajasthan women's commission asks Pali collector to probe if Daati Maharaj's ashram has proper documentation

JAIPUR: Rajasthan State Commission for Women today wrote to the collector of Pali district to carry out an investigation in the ashram of rape accused Daati Maharaj where a team of the commission has found several irregularities.

The commission has also asked the Pali Superintendent of Police to ensure safety and security of girls residing in the ashram of the self-styled godman.

A team comprising two members and a judicial officer visited the ashram yesterday and found several irregularities, Chairperson of the State Commission for Women Suman Sharma said.

"The ashram authorities did not cooperate with the team initially and failed to furnish proper documents and NOCs required to run the hostel and educational institutions. Therefore, I have asked the collector to conduct an inquiry and give a report within 10 days," she said.

There was no proper record of girls staying there. Against an entry of 153 girls in a register, the team found 253 girls.

They could not produce a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the government to run the educational institute and hostel, and the registration of the society which runs the institutes was also not renewed, Sharma told reporters.

The chairperson said the Collector was directed to conduct a probe to check the registration, NOC and other documents and arrangements in the ashram.

"The girls our team spoke to were scared and there was the contradiction in their statements. So we have asked the SP to ensure safety and security of these girls. The SP was asked to depute policemen there," she added.