DixitJaipur, Jan 7 (PTI) More than 70 girls were found stayingin a Rajasthan ashram run by self-styled godman Virendra DevDixit, the accused in the Rohini-ashram case, the police saidtoday.
On December 24, 47 women and six minor girls were rescuedfrom different centres of Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya in Delhiand Uttar Pradesh run by Dixit, with the CBI probing chargesof rape and illegal confinement of girls and women at thecentres against him.
The search at Abu Road in Sirohi district of Rajasthanwas conducted yesterday following directions from seniorofficers.
The 72 girls claimed that they were staying in the ashramfor spiritual activities and living there willingly. Theyasserted that they are allowed to meet their guardians, saidMithu Lal, Station House Officer (SHO) of Abu Road policestation.
The caretaker of the ashram has been told to providedocuments of the girls. However, no suspicious activity wasnoticed in the ashram as of now, the SHO said.
"We are verifying the credentials of the girls and otherstaffers," he said.
Last month, the Delhi Commission for Women along with apolice contingent raided two centres of Dixit in Rohini andDwarka and rescued over 40 girls who were allegedly confinedthere.
The matter had come to light after a PIL was filed by anNGO, Foundation for Social Empowerment, in the Delhi HighCourt. The NGO had informed the court that several girls andwomen were allegedly being illegally confined there. PTI SDAHMBNSD.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.