Godman faces money laundering cases

A Delhi court has framed charges against Shiv Murat Dwivedi, alias Ichchadhari Baba, the alleged self-styled godman, and his aide Praveen Kumar under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act. The court has put them on trial for the offence punishable under Section 4 of PML Act as defined under Section 3 of the said Act.

The Enforcement Directorate had lodged a case of money laundering against Dwivedi and his aide. The ED had alleged in its complaint that the duo were allegedly indulged in Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act and through this they had acquired huge movable and immovable assets. The ED had alleged that the accused then allegedly invested money in real estate, cars, and insurance policies.

“From 2001 to 2010, in and around Delhi, both of you (Dwivedi and Kumar), by committing offences punishable under Sections 5, 6 and 8 of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, which at the relevant time were scheduled offences as specified under Paragraph 4 of Part B of the schedule attached to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, generated, derived or obtained, directly or indirectly, the following proceeds of crime, and also knowingly assisted each other in generating, deriving or obtaining such proceed of crime, or knowingly became a party in such generating, deriving or obtaining such proceed of crime, or by actually involved in generating, deriving or obtaining such proceed of crime and projected or claimed the same as untainted property,” the court noted in its order.

The court said that during the period between 2001 and 2010, Dwivedi deposited over Rs 90 lakh in various bank accounts and made payment to insurance company, purchased a car and a house in Southeast Delhi by investing huge amount of proceeds of crime.

The police had arrested Dwivedi for allegedly running a high prostitution rackets. The police had alleged that over 100 girls were working for him and he had amassed more than Rs 60 crore in last 10 years. Police officials had said that Dwivedi’s racket was spread in Pune, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Lucknow and other cities. They also claimed that the slain dacoit, Shiv Kumar Patel, alias Dadua, was his close aide. Many foreigners were also allegedly involved in his racket. The police chargesheeted Dwivedi along with his three aides under ITP Act. The ED had lodged a separate case against Dwivedi. He reportedly joined flesh trade after coming in contact with Sonu Punjaban, who was also arrested by the police for running a high-profile sex racket.

The ED had also attached assets, including over a dozen bank accounts and cars, of Dwivedi and his aide.