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Mired in charges ranging from obscenity to dowry harassment, controversial godwoman Radha Maa on Monday dismissed allegations levelled against her and maintained that she was "innocent, pure and pious".
Summons were issued by the Mumbai police in connection with a dowry harassment case to the woman whom devotees call 'Radhe Maa' -- a self-styled godwoman who is rarely seen in public without garish makeup, a small trident in hand, flowing red saris and jewellery around her neck.
In a press conference, she told reporters, "Main bilkul nirdosh hu (I am innocent), I am pure and pious."
"Jo bhakt mere paas aate hain un par bhagwan meher kar deta hai (Whoever becomes my devotee, God helps them)," she was quoted by ANI as saying.
Main bilkul nirdosh hu, I am pure, jo bhakt mere paas aate hain un par bhagwan meher kar deta hai: Radhe maa pic.twitter.com/UaQf6I3CyM
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 10, 2015
A 32-year-old woman has accused Radhe Maa of instigating her in-laws, who are her followers, to demand dowry. A case has been registered under section 498A of the Indian Penal Code against her and the police have summoned her for questioning.
Falguni Bhrambhatt, a Mumbai-based lawyer, who says Sukhwinder Kaur popularly known as Radhe Maa is a fraud who takes advantage of the innocence of people has also filed an obscenity complaint.
Radhe Maa says the allegations are untrue.
In an interview to Times Now on Sunday, she had said, "There are no allegations against me. I don't agree, neither does my god. I am right in the eyes of god. The world does not spare anyone. Those who have love for me and are my true 'bhakts', they like me and I am right for them."
Radhe Maa was out of Mumbai for the last few days, police told PTI.
"Summons were served to Radhe Maa last night. Her statement will be recorded on Friday," Kandivali police station's senior inspector Mukund Pawar said.
She has also dismissed allegations of obscenity levelled against her. "I have not done anything obscene. I am a mother. Is it obscenity if a mother loves her children," she told Times Now.
Trying to defend herself, Radhe Maa drew up an analogy: "Sachai chup nahi sakti banavat kay usulon say, khushbu aa nahii sakti kagaz kay phoolon sey." (Truth cannot hide from the laws, flowers made of paper cannot have fragrance)
Police had earlier issued summons to six persons in connection with the case. They are expected to record their statements before police today.
"The six accused are supposed to come to the police station for recording their statements," Pawar said.
The police had registered an FIR against Radhe Maa and others last week, including the in-laws of the woman who has accused them of "mental and physical harassment for dowry."
So far, police has tried to gather evidence and other material substantiating the allegations of the complainant, Pawar had said.
All the seven accused have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and Dowry Prohibition Act, police said.
Radhe Maa found herself the subject of discussion on social media after her photos and video hit the internet.
Rahul Mahajan had tweeted out photos, which showed Radhe Maa in skimpy clothing and a video of her dancing to a Bollywood number has been used by critics to question her actions.
Contact HuffPost India