Daati Maharaj booked for rape and unnatural sex

New Delhi: The CBI on Friday booked self-styled preacher Daati Maharaj, who runs a temple in south Delhi, for allegedly raping and having unnatural sex with an inmate of his ashram. The agency had taken over investigation in the case on the directions of the Delhi high court.

Sources in the Central probe agency said that based on a complaint by a female disciple, a case of rape and unnatural sex was filed against Daati Maharaj, his three brothers, and a woman at Fatehpur Beri police station in South Delhi.

On June 22, the police had questioned Daati Maharaj, also known as Daati Madanlal, who was charged with rape of a disciple at his ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan. The accused had claimed he was being framed in the case.

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V.K. Rao had allowed the complainant woman’s plea to transfer the matter to the CBI, saying the manner in which the police carried out the probe “casts a shadow on the investigation.”

It is possibly the first case registered by the agency after a midnight drama, in which its director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana were divested of all powers by the government on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission.

“The accused will soon be called for questioning. If required, the accused may be confronted with the complainant during interrogation. The agency will soon send summons for questioning the accused,” sources said.