New Delhi: Delhi Police is likely to invoke
provisions of MCOCA against a 39-year-old self-styled godman
who was arrested for allegedly running a multi-crore sex
racket in the national capital.
Shiv Murat Dwivedi (39) alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami
Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale, who had set up a
`temple` in south Delhi`s Khanpur, was arrested with a man and
six women, including two air hostesses, last week on charges
of prostitution.
Sources said officials were looking into whether Dwivedi
could be slapped charges under the provisions of MCOCA, which
allows police to furnish as evidence confession the accused
made before a senior official not below the rank of a DCP.
Police believe that Dwivedi was in close association with
some notorious pimps, including Sonu Punjaban and two others
who was arrested in November 2008, and were running the racket
along with them.
Apparently, they fell out and the others were arrested.
The sources said Dwivedi earned crores of rupees through
the sex racket. Half a dozen diaries were recovered from
Dwivedi`s possession which contains a large number of names,
including some politicians. However, the veracity of his
claims is yet to be ascertained, they said.
Police are also planning to take Dwivedi to Chitrakoot
where he hails from.
Investigators have found that Dwivedi has built cave-like
structures in a temple he built in south Delhi`s Khanpur.
Dwivedi has recently built a 200-bed hospital in his
native place.
The racket was unearthed on February 25 after police
received inputs about the pimps and sex workers who were to
come to PVR Saket. A Sub-Inspector was sent as a decoy
customer and after a deal was struck, police swooped down and
arrested them.
To cover up his activities, Dwivedi changed his name and
claimed to be a disciple of Sai Baba.
"He started a Sai Baba temple in Badarpur and gradually
started a flesh trade racket on the premises. He constructed
his own temple at Khanpur and started holding Pravachans and
Satsangs," a senior police official said.
He added that Dwivedi got articles about him published in
magazines and released CDs of his sermons so as to make his
religious front seem real.
To cover up his activities, the official claimed, Dwivedi
disguised himself as Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji
Maharaj Chitrakoot and claimed himself to be a great disciple
of Sai Baba.
"He started meditating in a Sai Baba temple in Badarpur
and gradually started a flourishing flesh trade racket," he
added.
PTI
