Court calls for fresh inquiries against Radhe Ma

Mumbai: A sessions court in Dindoshi has set aside the process issued by a Borivali magistrate court against self-styled god woman Sukhvinder Kaur, alias Radhe Maa, under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. The court has asked the magistrate court to make appropriate enquiries afresh after re-hearing the complainant Nikki Gupta.

Gupta had initiated court proceedings against her in-laws and Radhe Ma, claiming they ill-treated her. She claimed that in an interview to a news channel, Kaur had allegedly made defamatory and derogatory remarks against her and her family, due to which her brother’s engagement was called off.  Following a private complaint filed by Gupta, a magistrate court in Borivali had issued process against Kaur on September 7.

The magistrate court had opined that even though Kaur was not residing with the complainant’s family, she was directly connected with the incident of domestic violence. The judge had also noted that there were direct and specific allegations against Kaur and had issued process against her. Due to this, Kaur had to face trial under the Domestic Violence Act. However, she challenged this order in the sessions court, where the order passed by the magistrate was stayed.

In his order, sessions Judge Khwaja F. M. observed that it was evident from the order that the magistrate had not viewed the interview before deciding the matter. The judge set aside the magistrate’s court order and directed the magistrate to make an appropriate enquiry afresh, and after re-hearing the complainant Gupta, pass a suitable order.

The court has directed Gupta to appear before the magistrate on October 13 and record her statement.