Calcutta High Court Tells State To Refrain From Taking Coercive Steps Against Padma-Awarded Monk Kartik Maharaj Over Allegations Of Rape

The Calcutta High Court has orally instructed the state government not to take any coercive steps against Padma Shri-awarded monk Maharaj Swami Pradiptananda alias 'Kartik Mahraj', who had moved the Court against allegations of rape levelled by a woman who claimed to be his devotee.

Justice Jay Sengupta made these oral remarks while accepting the petitioner's plea for an in-camera hearing in his petition to quash the FIR against him. The bench asked the state not to take any action against the Swami till the trial commences on Thursday.

State Counsel opposed the prayer for an in-camera trial, citing the example of Asaram's case, wherein he was tried before an open court in the Gujarat High Court, but the objections were not heeded to, with the trial set to commence today.

According to the Hindustan Times, the woman has alleged in her complaint that Swami Pradiptananda raped her repeatedly between 2012 and 2019 by promising her a job.

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