Rohini Ashram Case | CBI May Freeze Assets Of Absconding Self Styled Godman Accused In Sexual Exploitation Case: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that the Central Bureau of Investigation shall be free to freeze the bank accounts of 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.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula perused the response filed by the probe agency highlighting the steps taken to arrest Dixit and noted that various bank accounts which are operated by him are in existence.

“Central Bureau of Investigation shall certainly be free to freeze bank accounts [of Dixit] by taking steps in accordance with the law,” the bench said.

The court also observed that it was satisfied with the progress made by the CBI in the case and asked the investigating agency to continue its efforts. The bench directed the CBI to continue its search for Dixit and also seize and freeze all his bank accounts.

The court was hearing a plea related to the living conditions of women at the ashram. 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.