Self-styled preacher Daati Maharaj's review petition dismissed by Delhi HC

Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao passed the order on Maharaj's plea seeking review of the court's October 3 order.

The HC said the way probe was carried out by police "casts a shadow on the investigation".

The bench accused police of not arresting Maharaj even after recording the complainant's statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The Delhi Police, represented by additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, had told the bench that its probe into the case was not partisan as alleged by the victim and added that the preacher was interrogated eight times during the investigation.

Daati on November 2 had told the high court that the CBI has lodged a fresh FIR in the matter against followed norms.

The plea against the October 3 order was initially filed in the Supreme Court, which had asked the self-styled preacher to approach the high court with his grievance.

The CBI had earlier submitted before the high court its status report of the probe in a sealed cover.

The agency had registered a case of rape and unnatural sex against Daati on October 26.

A complaint was filed against Maharaj on June 7 and an FIR was registered on June 11.

On June 22, police questioned the accused, who has been charged with rape of a disciple at his ashrams in Delhi and Rajasthan.

The complainant's plea was earlier being heard by a single-judge HC bench, but was transferred to the division bench after a PIL was filed.

The complainant had filed the case against the preacher, his three brothers and a woman at Fatehpur Beri police station, South Delhi.

The case was later transferred to the crime branch.

The complaint said the FIR against him has been registered for alleged heinous offenses of rape, unnatural sex, molestation and common intention under the IPC.

Meanwhile, Maharaj claimed that he was being framed.