Inspect ashram run by absconding ‘godman’ Virendra Dev Dixit: Delhi HC

“The State is directed to produce respondent no. 6 (woman) on the next date of hearing, and till further orders, she shall not be allowed to leave that ashram,” the bench further directed.

The counsel appearing for the mother argued that the woman had been “tutored since the age of 13 years and so investigation with respect to ‘exerting influence’ on the woman should also be conducted”, adding that the woman went to the ashram in December 2023.

The counsel appearing for the CBI and the State jointly informed the bench that two FIRs were lodged against Dixit for alleged rape. The counsel for the CBI further said it was making all efforts to trace him.

Meanwhile, the bench took note of the woman’s submission (who was produced by police in court), as was evident from the status report filed by the state, that she had filed “various complaints against her mother, maternal uncle and aunt in which she stated that she is an adult of age 18 years”. The bench noted that the girl’s date of birth is in November 2005 and she had completed Class XII, in science stream, and was pursuing a graphic designing course.

“She further stated that she has been doing her spiritual studies of teachings being given at Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya for the last five years and she has joined the said ashram,” the bench noted. The HC further noted that as per the woman, the mother and other relatives were against the woman’s decision, and the woman had told her mother via a phone call that she had “voluntarily joined the ashram and also sent her an email informing the same”. The woman claimed her mother had threatened her that she would come and take her from the ashram, the bench further noted.

Apart from this matter, two other matters are pending in the high court involving Dixit’s ashram, including a 2020 petition by an aged couple seeking the “release” of a woman from the “custody” of the ashram (in Rohini).
Last month, the parents moved an application in their pending plea seeking interaction with their daughter, claiming she was misled and influenced by Dixit and the ashram. While the woman’s lawyer informed the HC that the client is an adult and does not wish to meet her parents, the HC had directed the woman to be “personally present in court” on the next date of hearing on January 31.