Dixit involved in human trafficking, claims DCW chief

SAYANTAN GHOSHNEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Jai Hind on Monday said she suspects that self-styled godman Virender Dev Dixit is running a human trafficking racket, spread across Delhi and other parts of India.

On Monday a Delhi High Court appointed team – comprising Jai Hind, advocate Ajay Verma and senior officials of Delhi Police – raided two more ashrams run by Dixit and rescued six minor girls.

"The team reached the ashram at Karawal Nagar in the morning and interacted with the inmates. There were six girls being kept in conditions similar to that in Vijay Vihar and Rohini ashrams of the baba," said a DCW member.

The member added that the Karawal Nagar ashram was smaller than the other ashrams, but had prison-like conditions and had girls confined in locked rooms.

"Proper records were not being maintained about where the girls came from and how long have they have been staying. All girls gave evasive replies," the member said.

According to members of the raid team, three girls appeared to be minors.

"The Child Welfare Committee has been requested to shift them to shelter homes and ensure their counselling. Locals informed that before the DCW visit, many girls had been removed from the premises," said the member.

Another of Dixit's ashrams visited by DCW was in Nangloi, where 10 to 15 women were found.

"The team did not find any minors there, but locals informed that 20 girls had been removed from the ashram in the morning. Some registers and literature were confiscated from the ashram," said another DCW member.

During her inspections of the ashrams, Jai Hind has found many books and literature which had derogatory content regarding minor girls.

These books, images of which have been shared by Jai Hind on her Twitter handle, contain articles with sexually explicit and indecent description of the lifestyle of the girls.

"CBI should urgently and simultaneously conduct raids at all ashrams of Baba Virender Dixit across India and close them down. By delaying the raids, the baba is getting time to cover up his act," said Jai Hind.

The DCW chief added that all women and girls should be immediately rescued, as Dixit's doctrines are irrational and evil.

"He says that his female disciples should try and increase their 'love percentage' with him and that would make them lovely. Further, he says that sleeping with him would ensure that the female disciples don't get bad dreams. These ashrams should be closed down," asserted Jai Hind.