New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday extended by
14 days the judicial custody of self-styled Godman Shiv Murat
Dwivedi who is accused of running a flesh trade racket here.
"The accused Dwivedi and Praveen Kumar are remanded to
jail till April 30," Additional Sessions Judge S K Sarvaria
said.
Dwivedi alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj
Chitrakootwale, who was initially booked under the Immoral
Traffic (Prevention) (ITP) Act, was later charged under
harsher provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes
Act (MCOCA) for running the sex racket in and around the
national capital.
Earlier, the accused had filed an application alleging
that he was forced to sign on blank papers to cook up his
confessional statement recorded under MCOCA. Police, however,
denied the allegations.
Dwivedi, allegedly involved in four cases under ITP Act
and one case of robbery, was arrested on March nine under
MCOCA.
The godman was alleged to have earned crores of rupees
through the sex racket and has properties worth Rs one crore
at various places. He is also accused of running a website for
flesh trade.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, April 17, 2010, 19:01