Daati Maharaj moves SC against HC order of rape case transfer to CBI

Self-styled godman Daati Maharaj has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court order of transferring the rape case against him to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Daati Maharaj's contentions are that he was not a party in the case in which the High Court had passed the order and that he was not heard before passing the order to transfer the case.

The top court will hear his plea on October 22.

On October 3, the High Court had allowed the complainant's plea which sought transfer of the matter to the CBI, while saying that the manner in which Delhi Police carried out the probe "casts a shadow on the investigation".

Previously, the probe was being helmed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.

The High Court order had come on two pleas, one by the complainant and another Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking CBI to take over the probe.

The High Court had pulled up the police for not arresting Daati Maharaj, saying that action was not taken even after recording of the complainant's statement before a magistrate under Section 164 (Recording of confessions and statements) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

On October 1, the police filed a charge sheet before the Saket Court detailing the statement of the complainant's sister, who claimed that the woman was sleeping in her room when the alleged crime took place.

Daati Maharaj is accused of raping a disciple two years ago and was booked under Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 354 (molestation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, he has maintained that he was being framed in the case.

The complainant, a 25-year-old woman, had stated that she was allegedly raped at Gurukul Ashwasan in Rajasthan's Bal Gram, adding that she did not file a complaint earlier as she felt intimidated by the self-styled godman.

On June 7, a complaint was filed against Daati Madan Lal alias Daati Maharaj and on June 11 an FIR was registered.