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Journalism of Courage
Before the Bombay High Court eventually granted her protection, the anticipatory bail plea filed by self-styled godwoman Sukhvinder Kaur, who is known as Radhe Maa, had been rejected by a sessions court, which noted that a large amount of cash and jewellery, allegedly gifted to her by the complainant in a dowry demand and harassment case, was to be recovered.
The court had also observed that custodial interrogation of Kaur was necessary, but she was allowed to leave Kandivali police station last Friday after being questioned for five and a half hours.
Kaur (50), who has listed her occupation as a religious and spiritual adviser, had argued through her lawyers in the Dindoshi court on August 13 that she had nothing to do with a matrimonial dispute between the Kandivali resident, Niki Gupta, and her estranged husband Nakul Gupta, whose family is one of Kaur’s foremost followers and who often host her at their Borivali home.
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Kaur is one of seven accused named by Niki Gupta in her private complaint filed in the Borivali metropolitan magistrate’s court in 2014. The complaint had charged Kaur, Nakul Gupta and five members of his family, with demanding dowry before and after the marriage and for physically and mentally harassing her between 2012 and 2013.
However, Additional Sessions Judge V A Raut had made note of two transactions between Niki Gupta and Kaur, while rejecting the latter’s bail application. Niki had alleged in her complaint that on February 19, 2012, the day she got engaged to Nakul Gupta, she was asked by the latter’s family to offer gifts — Rs. 51,000 cash and other articles — to Kaur.
The same day, Niki was allegedly forcefully sent to work in Kaur’s living quarters between noon and 6 pm. The complaint alleged that Niki was “forced to massage her (Kaur’s) legs, clean her utensils, wash her clothes”. It also said Kaur used to assault and abuse her.
Another transaction took place on February 18, 2012, a day before the engagement, when Niki and her parents went to Borivali for a ‘darshan’ of Kaur. The complaint said her to-be mother-in-law Lata Gupta advised her to give Kaur unspecified articles valued at Rs 21,000.
In her August 13 bail rejection order, Judge Raut observed, “…huge amount is involved in the crime and gifted articles are yet to be recovered… considering the serious nature of offence, I am of the opinion that custodial interrogation with the applicant (Kaur) is necessary. Hence, she is not entitled for grant of anticipatory bail.”
Kaur’s pre-arrest relief granted by the HC lasts another week.
srinath.rao@expressindia.com
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