Tainted godman was not forced to sign blank papers, police tells court

Delhi police today told a court here that it did not force self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi, accused of running a flesh trade racket, to sign on blank papers to cook up his confessional statement recorded under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

"The accused has not been forced to sign on any blank paper," a reply filed by the prosecutor before additional sessions judge SK Sarvaria said.

Defence counsel MS Khan, in an application, had claimed the accused did not record any confessional statement and was
forced to sign on blank papers.

The court, which kept the application pending saying the issue would be decided later during the trial, took the reply of the prosecutor into the records.

The prosecutor, meanwhile, filed the copy of the confessional statement of Dwivedi alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakootwale in a sealed cover.

The godman and co-accused Praveen Kumar were today also remanded to judicial custody till April 17.

Dwivedi, who was alleged to be involved in four cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and one case of robbery, was arrested on March nine under the provisions of the MCOCA.

The godman was alleged to have earned crores of rupees through the sex racket and has properties worth Rs1 crore at various places. He is also accused of running a website for flesh trade.

Earlier, the Tihar jail authorities had provided a separate cell to Dwivedi and his associate after they apprehended that they could be harmed inside the prison.