Delhi HC orders inquiry into whereabouts of woman, functioning of Rohini ashram

New Delhi, Aug 25 (AHN) The Delhi High Court has directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Vijay Vihar Police Station to register a missing person case and inquire into the whereabouts of a woman allegedly missing from an ashram in Rohini, while observing that the affairs and management of the spiritual establishment require a probe.

A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia passed the direction while hearing a plea filed by the woman's parents, who sought her release from the custody of persons associated with the 'Adhyatmik Vidhyalya' aashram in the capital's Rohini area.

The parents submitted that both of them were in poor and deteriorating health and, owing to their advanced age, there was no one else to look after them.

During the hearing, amicus curiae Aakansha Kaul informed the Delhi High Court that she had interacted with two women present in court who claimed to be followers of the spiritual order. They stated that the woman was not presently residing at the Rohini ashram, although her luggage was still lying there.

In its order, the Delhi High Court noted that the founder and spiritual head of the ashram was facing a criminal trial, had absconded during the trial, and was now reported to be dead, as informed by the Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

It further recorded that despite certain reports being available in a connected writ petition, there was no clarity regarding who presently runs and manages the ashram, from where its funds and those of other related ashrams were coming, and how these establishments were being managed.

"In the aforesaid circumstances, we are of the opinion that the affairs of the ashram and the manner in which they are being run need to be probed and inquired into," the CJ-led Bench said.

It also took note of the statements of the two women present before it.

One of them, Pragati, stated that she had been living in an ashram at Delhi’s Nangloi and had come to the Rohini ashram on the day of hearing. The other woman, Shyam Lata, stated that she did not reside in any of the ashrams but belonged to the same spiritual order.

Noting that the woman was said to be missing even though her luggage and certain other belongings remained at the Rohini ashram, the Delhi High Court directed the SHO of Vijay Vihar Police Station to register a case of missing person and conduct an inquiry into her whereabouts. It directed that the SHO submit a report before it on the next date of hearing and remain present to apprise the bench of the outcome of the inquiry.

It also requested the Standing Counsel for the Delhi government, Sameer Vashisht, to communicate the order to the SHO concerned and provide all necessary assistance for conducting the inquiry. It further directed that relevant details available in the writ petition be provided to the police officer after inspection of the records.

The matter has been directed to be listed on August 31 along with a connected writ petition and has been ordered to be placed "High on Board".