Sex racket: Court to record evidence against godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi

A Delhi court today fixed for recording of statements of witnesses in the sex racket case allegedly involving self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi and seven others.

"Now, fix the matter for recording of statements of prosecution witnesses on September 28," metropolitan magistrate Monika Saroha said.

The court had earlier framed charges under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act against Dwivedi and seven others, including six alleged call girls, in the case.

Dwivedi and alleged pimp Praveen had been charged with the offences of procuring and supplying girls for getting financial gains.

The alleged call girls, who are out on bail, have been charged with the offence of making themselves available for the illegal trade.

Besides the present case, Dwivedi and his aide Praveen have been booked under stringent MCOCA for running a sex racket in New Delhi.

Following a tip off, six alleged call girls were arrested by the police in February this year from Saket in South Delhi. Dwivedi and Praveen were nabbed subsequently.

The police, which had earlier filed a charge sheet under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act against Dwivedi and others, is yet to complete probe in the case lodged under MCOCA.

The charge sheet said Dwivedi had amassed wealth running into crores of rupees by running the flesh trade for over a decade.

During custodial interrogation of the self-styled godman, the police, at the instance of the accused, have recovered documents relating to properties, investments and bank details, it said.

The charge sheet said Rs1.55 lakh in cash, gold ornaments and VCDs were recovered from the car of Dwivedi at the time of the raid on his premises on February 26.