A Delhi court has dismissed a plea for registration of an FIR against a self-styled godman for allegedly duping a man of Rs 5.5 lakh in the name of healing his chronic illness, saying no investigation was required to be conducted in the matter.
It upheld a magisterial court order that had rejected the plea of the complainant, a Delhi resident, alleging that self- claimed guru, Bharat, also man-handled and threatened him.
“Despite specific queries, the revisionist complainant, has not been able to convince the court as to what scientific or field investigation was required in this case.
“Trial court has rightly observed that the entire evidence is in possession of the complainant and field investigation or scientific investigation is not required to be conducted. The complainant is also well conversant with the identity of the respondent,” Additional Sessions Judge Vrinda Kumari said.
According to the prosecution, complainant Kanni Lal had alleged that Bhagat claimed to possess spiritual powers to cure illnesses which could not be cured by doctors.
In the name of holy water and siddhi pooja (rituals), he induced the complainant to pay Rs 50,000 in March, 2015 and Rs 5 lakh in August, 2015, it said, adding that when the complainant did not get any relief, he demanded his money back but the godman refused and threatened him with dire consequences.
In his revision petition against the trial court’s May 26, 2016 order dismissing his complaint, Lal said, the police was duty bound to register FIR when the contents of the complaint disclosed cognisable nature of offence.
He had claimed that despite complaints, no action was taken by local police and sought registration of FIR against Bhagat under sections 420 (cheating), 383 (extortion), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 323(voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
( Source – PTI )
