HC expresses shock at probe report on cult racket

Mumbai: The high court expressed shock after perusing Mumbai crime branch’s investigation report on Dr Sunil Kulkarni who was arrested last week for running a drug-and-sex racket under the guise of a cult named “Shifu Sunkriti”. The court said, “The information which has been submitted before us is very shocking… very serious charges like 292, 328, and 420 are being registered against the accused.”

While section 420 pertains to cheating, 328 to causing hurt by intoxication, 292 involves publishing obscene books. The court has kept the matter for further hearing on June 7. The HC has given police more time for investigation. The victims of this racket wanted to file an intervention application but the HC has not yet accepted it. A division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice A.M. Badar was hearing a petition filed by a couple which alleged that the accused had founded the cult “Shifu Sunkriti” and ruined the lives of their two daughters who were pursuing higher studies before they came into contact with this group that operates on social media.

Additional public prosecutor Sangita Shinde informed the court that upon the court’s direction, the city crime branch had arrested Dr Kulkarni. She said that the DCP of crime branch was supervising the entire investigation. Meanwhile, the petitioners’ daughters wanted to intervene in the PIL but the court asked them to file application and told them it will decide later whether the application should be allowed or not.

At last hearing, the court rapped the Malad police for not registering a FIR after the petitioner couple approached the police station several times. The court directed the crime branch to register a FIR and file a report till April 25.