This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Bombay HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To Radhe Maa In Dowry Harassment Case

Radhe Maa Gets Anticipatory Bail In Dowry Harassment Case
MUMBAI, INDIA - AUGUST 27: (file photo) Radhe Maa, self-proclaimed Godwoman, visits Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, on August 27, 2012 in Mumbai, India. Radhe Maa has been accused of dowry harassment by a woman, who has filed an FIR or police complaint in Mumbai. The woman has said that her husband's family tortured her on the Godwoman's advice and forced her to serve Radhe Maa, do chores for her and give her massages. Radhe Maa's real name is Sukhvinder Kaur. She was born on 4 April 1965 in Dorangala village of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Her followers state that she was drawn to spirituality as a child, and spent a lot of time at the Kali temple in her village. However, according to the people of her village, she did not show any spiritual leanings as a child. At the age of 23, she became a disciple of Mahant Ram Deen Das of 1008 Paramhans Bagh Dera Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. Ram Deen Das oversaw her deeksha (initiation ceremony), and gave her the title Radhe Maa. She is usually seen in glittering red bridal wear, heavy jewellery and layers of make-up. Thick garlands and a trident complete the picture. She used to stitch clothes to support her husband's small income. (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
MUMBAI, INDIA - AUGUST 27: (file photo) Radhe Maa, self-proclaimed Godwoman, visits Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, on August 27, 2012 in Mumbai, India. Radhe Maa has been accused of dowry harassment by a woman, who has filed an FIR or police complaint in Mumbai. The woman has said that her husband's family tortured her on the Godwoman's advice and forced her to serve Radhe Maa, do chores for her and give her massages. Radhe Maa's real name is Sukhvinder Kaur. She was born on 4 April 1965 in Dorangala village of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Her followers state that she was drawn to spirituality as a child, and spent a lot of time at the Kali temple in her village. However, according to the people of her village, she did not show any spiritual leanings as a child. At the age of 23, she became a disciple of Mahant Ram Deen Das of 1008 Paramhans Bagh Dera Mukerian in Hoshiarpur district. Ram Deen Das oversaw her deeksha (initiation ceremony), and gave her the title Radhe Maa. She is usually seen in glittering red bridal wear, heavy jewellery and layers of make-up. Thick garlands and a trident complete the picture. She used to stitch clothes to support her husband's small income. (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

MUMBAI -- In a relief for controversial self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa, the Bombay High Court today granted her pre-arrest bail in a dowry harassment case.

The bail was granted by Justice Revati Mohite Dere after hearing arguments from the lawyers of Radhe Maa, Mumbai Police and the housewife who had filed complaint against the godwoman.

The court has asked Radhe Maa to appear as and when required by Kandivali Police, which is probing the complaint against her.

On August 14, the court had granted Radhe Maa alias Sukhvinder Kaur interim protection from arrest while hearing her plea.

Radhe Maa, who apprehended arrest in the case, had moved the High Court after a sessions court had rejected her anticipatory bail petition on August 13.

Mumbai Police had filed a case against her on August 5 for allegedly instigating the in-laws of a 32-year-old housewife to harass her for dowry.

The case was filed after a Borivali Magistrate had ordered a probe by police under section 156(3) of CrPc into allegations of dowry harassment against her on the complaint filed by the housewife.

The housewife's counsel Girish Kulkarni had earlier argued that the in-laws of the complainant were disciples of Radhe Maa. The godwoman had complete control over the family and at her instance they had allegedly taken dowry from the housewife.

Radhe Maa's counsel Abad Ponda had argued in the HC that all the six accused in the dowry case, including the husband of the complainant (housewife), had been given protection by the trial court, except Radhe Maa.

He had also argued that the allegation against Radhe Maa of instigating the family to extract dowry from the complainant was an 'afterthought' and an improvement in the case, because such an accusation was not made during the proceedings filed in the family court two years ago.

In her petition, Radhe Maa had denied all the allegations, saying she had never instigated the family members and that she was being dragged into the case only because the complainant's in-laws were her devotees.

The self-styled godwoman had further alleged that the complainant had levelled allegations against her only to secure a favourable order from the family court in the dowry case filed by her against in-laws. She alleged that she was being "framed up" by the complainant.

Contact HuffPost India

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.