New Delhi, August 25: The Delhi High Court has directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Vijay Vihar police station to register a case regarding a woman’s disappearance and to locate her whereabouts after she went missing from an ashram in Rohini.
Additionally, the court emphasized the need to investigate the operations and management of this spiritual institution.
The directive came from a division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia, during a hearing on a petition filed by the woman’s parents. They sought the release of their daughter from the custody of individuals associated with the ‘Spiritual School’ ashram located in the capital’s Rohini area.
The parents expressed concern over their declining health and advanced age, stating that they have no one else to care for them.
During the hearing, amicus curiae (friend of the court) Akanksha Kaul informed the Delhi High Court that she had spoken to two women present in court who identified themselves as followers of the spiritual organization. She reported that the missing woman is no longer residing at the Rohini ashram, although her belongings remain there.
The court noted that the founder and spiritual head of the ashram is currently facing criminal charges and had gone missing during the trial. Reports suggest that he is now deceased, as indicated by the special public prosecutor representing the CBI.
The court also observed that despite some reports being available in a related writ petition, there is no clarity on who currently manages the ashram, where the funding for it and other associated ashrams comes from, and how these institutions are being operated.
The bench, led by the Chief Justice, stated, “Given these circumstances, we believe that an investigation into the operations and management of the ashram is warranted.”
The court took into account the statements of the two women present. One, named Pragati, mentioned that she had been residing in an ashram in Nangloi, and had come to the Rohini ashram on the day of the hearing. The other woman, Shyam Lata, stated that she did not live in any ashram but was affiliated with the same spiritual group.
Considering the report of the woman’s disappearance, while her belongings and some other items remained at the Rohini ashram, the Delhi High Court instructed the SHO of Vijay Vihar police station to file a missing person’s case and conduct an investigation to determine her whereabouts.
The court ordered the SHO to present a report by the next hearing date and to be present to inform the bench about the investigation’s findings.
The court also instructed Samir Vashistha, the standing counsel for the Delhi government, to inform the relevant SHO about this order and to provide all necessary assistance in the investigation. Furthermore, it directed that essential information from the writ petition be shared with the police officer after reviewing the records.
This matter has been scheduled to be listed with a related writ petition on August 31 and marked as “High on Board.”
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