A petition was moved before the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking transfer of probe into the rape case against self-styled preacher Daati Maharaj to the CBI.
No arrest
The petition, filed by an NGO, Delhi Citizen Forum for Civil Rights, alleged that the investigation carried out by Delhi Police seemed to be “biased and unfair” as no arrest were made so far.
A complaint was lodged against Daati Madan Lal alias Daati Maharaj on June 7 and an FIR was registered on June 11. The accused was questioned by the police the next day and that former was charged for raping a disciple in his ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan.
The accused had, however, claimed that he was being framed in the case. The woman had filed the complaint against the preacher, his three brothers and another woman at 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 that the FIR against Daati Maharaj has been registered for alleged heinous offences of rape, unnatural sex, molestation and common intention under the IPC.
Allegation
“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,” the petition alleged.
It further claimed that delay in arresting the accused amounted to interference with the evidence and witnesses in the case.
The petition also mentioned that the cases of Dera chief Ram Rahim and self-styled preacher Virender Dev Dixit, involving exploitation of women disciples, were earlier investigated by the CBI.
A trial court here had earlier taken strong exception to the ongoing probe in the rape case, saying the investigating officer had not been able to explain the efforts made to ensure that the accused does not abscond during the investigation.
It had directed the DCP (Crime Branch) to monitor the investigation and ensure that a status report on the case is filed in the court every week.
A Delhi Police team, accompanied by the victim, had earlier visited the ashram in Pali, Rajasthan, to gather evidence, but they failed to find the accused there. The Delhi Commission for Women had also demanded the arrest of the self-styled god-man.