Court frames charges against godman, 6 others in sex racket

A Delhi court today framed charges against self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi and six others, including five alleged call girls, for allegedly running a sex racket in New Delhi.

A Delhi court on Friday framed charges against self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi and six others, including five alleged call girls, for allegedly running a sex racket in New Delhi.

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"I find prima facie sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial against the accused under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act," Metropolitan Magistrate Ravinder Singh said.

The charges against one of the alleged call girls would be framed on August 17, the next date of hearing, as she did not appear before the court today.

Dwivedi alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakootwale and his alleged tout Praveen have been charged under various provisions of the Act for running a sex racket and supplying call girls for pecuniary gains.

The alleged call girls have been charged with the offence of making themselves available for illegal trade.

All the accused did not accept the charges and wished to face the trial.

Following a tip off, the alleged six call girls were arrested by police in February this year from a locality in south Delhi. Dwivedi and Praveen were nabbed subsequently.

Except Dwivedi, who is also booked in another case lodged under stringent MCOCA, other seven accused are out on bail.

Police, which had earlier filed a chargesheet under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act against Dwivedi and others, is yet to complete probe in the case lodged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act.

The chargesheet alleged Dwivedi had amassed wealth running into crores of rupees by running the flesh trade for over a decade, it charged.

During custodial interrogation of the self-styled godman, police, at the instance of the accused, have recovered various documents relating to properties, investments and bank details, it said.

The chargesheet also alleged Rs 1.55 lakh in cash, gold ornaments and VCDs were recovered from the car of Dwivedi at the time of the raid on his premises on February 26.