DCW seeks report on delay in arrest of self-styled godman
New Delhi, June 14: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Thursday wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) seeking the reasons for the delay in arrest of self-styled godman Daati Maharaj, who has been accused of sexual assault by a woman.
According to the Commission, the godman has not been arrested yet despite an FIR registered against him.
"It has come to the knowledge of the Commission through media reports that the accused Daati Maharaj has not been arrested till now and he is giving interviews to the media from his ashram. This is a very serious matter," the letter stated.
"Please provide an action taken report to the Commission within 48 hours of receipt of this notice," it added.
The incident came to light after the 25-year-old victim registered a case in Fatehpur Beri Police Station under sections of 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex) and 354 (molestation) on Monday against the godman, who is the founder of Delhi-based Shree Shanidham Trust.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal also said that the godman should be arrested immediately and proper investigation be done in the matter.
"Deeply shocked. Daati Maharaj, a rape accused is yet to be arrested and is conveniently giving media interviews from his 'ashram'. DCW has issued notice to Crime Branch to seek reasons for same. Daati Maharaj should be immediately arrested and proper investigation done in the matter," she tweeted.
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Nashik court sends ‘godman’ Kharat to seven-day judicial custody in third rape case
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Nashik (PTI): A court in Maharashtra's Nashik on Monday remanded self-styled godman Ashok Kharat to judicial custody till April 20 in a third case of rape against him for allegedly sexually exploiting a pregnant woman.
The special investigation team (SIT) produced Kharat for a virtual hearing in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate B N Ichpurani as his police custody in the case ended on Monday.
The SIT presented the remand report and sought judicial custody for Kharat, a former merchant navy officer. The court then remanded him to a seven-day judicial custody till April 20.
In the third case, Kharat, who was first arrested in mid-March, is accused of sexually exploiting a seven-month pregnant woman, the wife of his office staffer.
According to the complaint lodged by the victim's husband, the accused sexually assaulted the survivor on multiple occasions, including in his office in Nashik, between November 2023 and December 2025.
Kharat also conducted a ritual with the pregnant woman at a temple in Mirgaon village of Sinnar taluka of the district, it said.
Although the victim informed her husband about her plight, he did not believe her. But when he heard about complaints of Kharat's misbehaviour with other women, he planted a spy camera in the astrologer's office to find out the truth and recorded his acts.
The employee later handed over to the police a pen drive containing objectionable videos of the 'godman'.
Kharat faces nearly a dozen cases, eight of them related to sexual assaults.
The SIT, meanwhile, has filed an application in the court demanding Kharat's custody in another case. As the court granted them the necessary permission, the team will take the accused's custody from the Nashik Road Central Jail.
Kharat will be produced in court again in the fourth case on Tuesday.
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