Many MPs, MLAs and even a district magistrate had attended a religious event organised by Dwivedi in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, in October 2009.
A godman arrested in Delhi last week may have run one of India’s most high-profile prostitution rackets, say investigators.
Probe into the racket allegedly run by Shiv Murat Dwivedi alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanandji Maharaj Chitrakootwale, 39, showed that he amassed more than Rs 60 crore in the last ten years. Dwivedi had more than 100 girls working for him.
“He used to hire girls who wanted to make a quick buck. We found a diary containing numbers of more than a hundred girls in Dwivedi’s south Delhi temple.”
Police teams have also been dispatched to Pune, Bangalore, Varanasi and Lucknow to investigate Dwivedis properties. Many MPs, MLAs and even a district magistrate had attended a religious event organised by Dwivedi in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, in October 2009.
“We have information of his close association with slain dacoit Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua,” a police official said.
Dwivedi, who hails from Chitrakoot, came to Delhi in 1988. “He worked as a security guard in Park Royal hotel for many years. He also worked at a massage parlour in Lajpat Nagar. He was arrested twice in 1997 and 1998 for his involvement in a prostitution racket and a theft case respectively,” deputy commissioner of police HGS Dhaliwal (south Delhi) said.
Dwivedi came in contact with two of Delhi’s leading pimps, Kanwaljeet and Sonu Punjaban. In 1998, he became a yogi. He soon had a large following.
“Dwivedi started a Sai Baba temple in Badarpur and started a flesh trade racket. Soon, he built his own temple in south Delhi. His temple had 14 rooms, CCTV cameras and a cave. Probe shows he was also operating in posh areas like CR Park, RK Puram, Bhikaji Cama Place and Safdarjung Enclave. He also acquired property in Shimla,” a police officer said.
Dwivedi used to target girls living alone. He used to lure high society women by offering huge amounts. Many foreigners were also involved in the sex racket.
“Dwivedi’s rich clients could afford to pay one lakh per day. One of the callgirls is from British Airways whereas another is from a European airline,” a police officer said.
Dwivedi was caught after police received information that some pimps and sex workers were coming to PVR Saket to strike a deal. “A sub inspector went as a decoy customer and struck a deal. The police arrested Dwivedi soon after,” Dhaliwal said.
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