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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SC directs President's secretary to place before her Beant assassination convict's mercy plea
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday directed President Droupadi Murmu's secretary to place before her the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, for consideration.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai, P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan requested the President to consider the plea within two weeks.
"Inspite of the matter being specifically kept today none appeared for Union of India. The bench assembled only for this case," the bench said.
"On the last date the matter was adjourned to enable the Union to take instructions from the office of the President as to by when will mercy plea be decided. Taking into consideration that the petitioner is on a death row, we direct the secretary to the President of India to place the matter before the President with a request to consider the same within two weeks from today," the bench said.
The matter will now be heard on December 5.
On September 25, the top court had sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana's plea.
The then Punjab chief minister and 16 others were killed in a blast at the entrance of the civil secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995.
A special court sentenced Rajoana to death in July 2007.
Rajoana has said that a mercy petition under Article 72 of the Constitution was moved by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on his behalf in March 2012.
On May 3 last year, the apex court had refused to commute his death sentence and said the competent authority could deal with his mercy plea.
