New Delhi: The Delhi police has registered a case against the self-styled godman, Daati Maharaj, for allegedly raping a disciple. The case was registered in Fatehpur Beri on Sunday and later transferred to the district investigations unit (DIU). He has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 376, 377, 354, and 34.
The woman alleged she was sexually assaulted two years ago inside Shani Dham in New Delhi. She didn’t file a complaint earlier as she felt intimidated by the self-styled godman.
According to some media reports, the victim revealed that the accused had targeted other female followers as well.
Daati Maharaj is said to enjoy a huge fan following in Delhi-NCR and other places. He is also regularly seen on TV in religious programmes. His official website (daati.com) introduces him as “Shree Sidh Shakti Peeth Shanidham Peethadheeshwar Shree Shree 1008 Mahamandaleshwar Pa-ramans Daati Ji Maharaj.”
The website describes the self-styled godman as an “adept yogi” and claims he “appeased” Lord Shani by performing “extensive meditation” for a long time. He was bestowed with the title of “Mahamandaleshwar of Shri Panchayati Mahanirvanee Akhara Haridwar.”
Meanwhile, the head of Delhi’s Commission for Women (DCW), Swati Maliwal, issued a notice to the SHO of Fatehpur Beri police station and said: “The commission is in receipt of a complaint from a girl, wherein she has alleged that she was raped by a godman Daati Maharaj and some other persons at Shri Shani Tirth Kshetra Ashram in Mahrauli. She has submitted that she was raped repeatedly even in Gurukul Ashwasan, Bal Gram, Sojat, Pali (Rajasthan). She has also submitted that a female priest helped the accused in this heinous crime. The atrocities revealed in the complaint are really horrid and need to be investigated urgently.
“In this regard, an FIR has been registered. But the survivor has not been provided a copy of the FIR and the medical report despite her request for the same. She has further stated that there is a threat to her as well as her family’s lives, especially in travelling to and from the police station,” she wrote in her notice to the police.
Ms Maliwal asked the police to look into the matter and provide immediate protection to the survivor. She also asked the police to provide an action taken report to the commission in the matter latest by June 15.
