Distressed father moves SC, alleges daughter held captive in self-styled godman's ashram

A father in New Delhi has filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking the release of his daughter allegedly held captive in an inhuman condition in an ashram. He raised the concern about hundreds of women living in unhygienic conditions which could lead to the spread of Coronavirus.

New Delhi: Father of a woman, allegedly trapped in Adhyatmika Vidyalaya at Rohini of Delhi founded by a rape accused, Veerendra Dev Dixit, has moved to the Supreme Court for relief.

He has sought directions to vacate the ashrams run by fake Babas including the one in the Rohini area where his daughter is trapped. Through his petition, he raised the concern about hundreds of women living in jail-like and unhygienic conditions which could lead to the spread of Coronavirus.

The daughter of the man has been staying in the ashram since 2015. Veerendra Dev Dixit has been declared absconding for about 3 years now. The matter had reached the Delhi High Court where on 20th December 2017, a report was produced explaining the condition of the ashram.

The report had said that some of the women are in ailing conditions, not provided medical assistance, not allowed to be in touch with family or friends and appear to be under the influence of drugs and narcotics substances.

They have been kept confined in a dark room where no sunlight reaches and has metal grills. The passage in the ashram is very narrow and metal doors have been installed at short intervals.

The father through his petition says that due to the inaction of the government authorities fake babas are trapping the innocent women.

"Though very serious criminal cases registered against Mr. Veerendra Dev Dixit, Mr. Asharam Bapu, Mr. Ram Rahim baba, etc, their ashrams are running by them with the help of their close associates. That the authorities are not verifying the facilities available in the Ashrams and the Ashrams are in a very poor condition," read the petition.

The father pleaded that the source of the money for running these ashrams needs to be verified and the mental and physical state of inmates needs to be checked. He said that "central and state government authorities are allowing illegal Ashrams run in unauthorised buildings".

The petition filed cited the recent case of the Supreme court where it had directed to release some prisoners to avoid the outbreak of coronavirus. Referring to SC's direction, he has sought release of his daughter along with other women who are trapped in ashrams in poor conditions.