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DCW chief suspects human trafficking in ashram, asks CBI to conduct raid

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Dec 25, 2017, 04:47 PM IST
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The DCW chief on Monday visited two more ashrams of Virendra Dev Dikshit at Karawal Nagar and Nangloi. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal has asked the CBI to conduct an urgent raid in all ashrams of spiritual leader Virendra Dev Dikshit.

She has asked the CBI to conduct an urgent raid without any delay to counter the "human trafficking racket" that might be running in many of his ashrams. 

"It appears that Baba Virender Dev Dixit is running a human trafficking racket. The CBI should urgently and simultaneously conduct raids at all ashrams of Dikshit across India and close them down. By delaying the raids, he is getting time to cover up his action," she said.

The DCW chief on Monday visited two more ashrams of Virendra Dev Dikshit at Karawal Nagar and Nangloi.

She was accompanied by Ajay Verma, an advocate who has been appointed as amicus curiae by the Delhi High Court.

The DCW chief found six women in the Karwai Nagar centre. She said that some of them seemed to be minors. 

In Nangloi Ashram she had found 10-15 women.

She also said that the locals in both the places had told them that prior to their visit "many girls" were "removed from the ashram".

She said that the condition of the ashrams in these places was similar to that of previously visited ashrams. 

"This ashram is similar to those in Vijay Vihar, Rohini and others -- full of locked structures. 

She said that the DCW has requested the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to interact with these minors and find out more information from them. She has also requested the concerned CWC to shift them to shelter homes and ensure counselling. 

The ashram is owned by self-styled godman Baba Virendra Dev. 

According to media reports, Baba Virendra Dev Dikshit considers himself to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna. He had the obsession of surrounding himself with 16,000 women, to match the belief that Lord Krishna had the same number of wives.

The Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya ashram had illegally confined minor girls and women in "animal-like conditions".

The court initiated a probe in the ashram after a PIL was filed by NGO foundation for Social Empowerment informing that several minors and women were illegally confined.