‘Godman’ held under tough law for sex trade

NEW DELHI - Delhi Police Sunday invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Shiv Murat Dwivedi, a self-styled godman held for running a prostitution racket in the national capital.

“We have invoked the provisions of MCOCA,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said.

Under MCOCA, the accused cannot apply for bail for six months and a

deputy commissioner of police will record his confession, which can be used as evidence in the court.

An assistant commissioner of police will investigate the case. In normal course, such cases are probed by an inspector, the official said.

Dwivedi alias Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale, 39, was arrested Feb 26 along with seven others, including six women, from Saket in south Delhi.

A city court Thursday sent him to five days in police custody.

Dwivedi, who belonged to Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, came to New Delhi in 1988 and initially worked as a security guard. He was arrested on prostitution charges in 1997 and 1998.

He then changed his appearance and started calling himself a godman. Under the cloak of spirituality, he started a flourishing flesh trade racket.