Book ‘cult leader who lures kids’, Bombay HC tells cops

Mumbai: Coming down heavily on the Mumbai police for its casual approach in a case where a number of youths are suspected to be sexually exploited using social media, the Bombay high court has directed it to register an FIR against Sunil Kulkarni, founder of ‘cult-like’ group Shifu Sunkriti, trace him and act against him.

The petitioners alleged that the accused is exploiting the lives of their two daughters.

The division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai refused to grant more time to the police and asked it to inform the court about the investigation’s status on April 25. “If we are not satisfied with the steps taken by the police we will transfer this case to the CBI,” said Justice More.

The court was hearing petition filed by a couple through advocates Sandesh Patil and Varsha Bhogle alleging that since December 2016 the petitioners had approached the Malad police station a number of times but no FIR was registered.

According to the petitioner, Kulkarni — who claims to be a doctor and a psychiatrist — initiates sweet talks with youngsters joining the group but slowly puts them under his influence.

The daughters of the couple, while speaking to The Asian Age outside the high court, refuted all the allegations levelled by their kin and alleged that it was their parents who kept them under wrongful confinement for days and they left their home due to their unnecessary restrictions.

“What have you (the police) done since December when the petitioner approached the first time? You are giving them (the accused) too much time (to escape),” said Justice More when it was brought to the court’s notice that police had visited the house, where the accused were living on rent, but they had already left the place.