Take Steps To Arrest Absconding Self Styled Godman And Head Of Rohini Based Ashram: Delhi High Court To CBI

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed Central Bureau of Investigation to take steps to arrest Virendra Dev Dixit, a self-styled godman and Chief of a Rohini-based ashram, who is absconding and has been declared a proclaimed offender in a sexual exploitation case. 

Hearing a plea related to the living conditions of women at the ashram, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said:

“The CBI is directed to take further steps for arresting Virendra Dev Dixit as he is still absconding by taking all possible appropriate measures. Let the matter be called after six weeks. Let CBI file a fresh status report in the matter.”

It was brought to the notice of the court that Dixit or his followers have been uploading various videos on at least six YouTube channels and social media handles and that a large number of videos were being uploaded since March 2018.

Noting that the CBI despite best efforts was unable to arrest him till date, the court said:

“However, CBI can investigate further to initiate the process for letter of request under section 166A of Code of Criminal Procedure to UK, Nepal and places from where the videos are being uploaded.”

The court further noted that another important aspect in the matter was existence of large number of ashrams throughout country [connected to Dixit]. It said that the CBI is required to investigate who is the owner of such ashrams, from which accounts the funds are being released towards payment of rent to owners of ashrams and documents on the basis of which properties are let out to the residents.

“CBI is directed to conduct further probe in the matter,” the court said.

After going through the records and various reports filed from time to time in the matter, the court said that the respective authorities will be under an obligation to enquire whether the provisions of Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act are being violated or not. “Let the exercise be conducted within four weeks,” the court said.

The court in April last year had asked retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi to supervise a committee constituted by it for the welfare of ashram’s women inmates. The committee was also asked to assess their physical and mental health.

The court had also said that the committee shall be free to take assistance of medical doctors, psychiatrists and other experts to make an assessment of the physical and mental well being of the inmates.

Previously, the bench had observed that women and children are a vulnerable class and therefore, some vigilance is required to keep a check on the functioning of such institutions.

The High Court in 2017 had ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the alleged illegal confinement of women and minors in the ashram after hearing a PIL filed by the NGO.

Case Title: DUMPALA MEENAVATHI AND ANR. v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.