New Delhi: Delhi police today arrested a key
aide of self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi under stringent
MCOCA for running a sex racket here and sought his custodial
interrogation from a court here to unravel his complicity in
the case.
Additional Sessions Judge S K Sarvaria allowed the police
to quiz Praveen in custody for two days as the investigators
told the court that he, along with Dwivedi who is already in
custody, was involved in the case.
Besides Dwivedi, alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand
Ji Maharaj Chitrakootwale, Praveen is the second accused who
was arrested under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes
Act.
"Accused Praveen was actively involved with Dwivedi in
the organised flesh trade racket here and his custodial
interrogation was required to unravel the case," the police
said.
A magisterial court had yesterday framed charges against
the godman and six others, including five alleged call girls,
in another case relating to allegedly running a sex racket
here.
The case was lodged under the Immoral Traffic
(Prevention) Act.
Following a tip off, six alleged call girls were arrested
by the police in February this year from a locality in South
Delhi. Dwivedi and Praveen were nabbed subsequently.
Except Dwivedi, who is also booked in the MCOCA case,
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 MCOCA.
The chargesheet alleged Dwivedi had amassed wealth
running into crores of rupees by running the flesh trade for
over a decade.
During custodial interrogation of the self-styled
godman, the police, at the instance of the accused, have
recovered 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.
PTI
