Sources, however, said not even minor charges have ever been framed against Ravindra, clearly indicating that he enjoys political patronage cutting across the party lines.
With the administration dithering to take any action against them time and again, several quarters are now alleging that groups such as Netaji cult in Mathura or Sati Pati cult in Gujarat were being sheltered for political benefits.
The Sati Pati cult in Gujarat, as reported by dna in an exclusive report, has over 6,000 followers across the state. They consider their late leader Keshri Sinh to be the owner of India. Keshri Sinh's son and heir Ravindra moves around in a red-siren mounted car. Till now, the administration has taken no action against him or the cult.
"We do not want to antagonise the local cults. We want to maintain law and order. Moving around in a red-siren car amounts to offence under the Motor Vehicle Act. They have never incited any violence, so sedition charges cannot be framed," said Ravi Kumar Arora, former collector of Valsad.
Sources, however, said not even minor charges have ever been framed against Ravindra, clearly indicating that he enjoys political patronage cutting across the party lines.
Reportedly, the local intelligence unit of Mathura had sent at least 80 warnings to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the Netaji cult's activities, but they all fell on deaf ears. A cache of arms, including a rocket launcher, was later discovered to be in their possession.
"While these cults have been allowed to thrive over the years under the shelter of the administration, had it been a Muslim group, it would have been wiped out on the basis of mere suspicion," said a senior government official, requesting anonymity.
Senior Congress member Mani Shankar Aiyar said, "People belonging to cults are mostly paranoid nutcases. In the Mathura violence case, if they had the intent to wage a war against the state, it will be decided upon the culmination of investigation."
Elaborating the issue, senior Supreme Court advocate KTS Tulsi said, "The Netaji cult incident is a case of mass murder and conspiracy, offences that are punishable with death. If there is enough supportive evidence that they wanted to overthrow the government through violent means, charges of sedition under section 124(A) can also be slapped."
"In case of Sati Patis, merely saying they denounce the government or that they are boycotting the government schemes is not seditious. Neither is using their logos and symbols an act of sedition," he added.
While the state and Central governments have turned a blind eye or remained secretive about the functioning of the cults, they have slapped sedition charges on individuals or groups for far lesser. "In every case, irrespective of which religion the person belongs to, charges of sedition have been falsely slapped," maintained Tulsi.
Cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, who was earlier charged with sedition for ridiculing the government, a charge that was later waived off, said, "The government has wrongly indicted persons under sedition on various occasions.
There have been no convictions in court. All individuals were later acquitted. These cults, however, should be investigated thoroughly, something that the state is dithering to do."
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