‘Godwoman’ Radhe Maa to be Questioned Over Dowry Harassment Allegations

Radhe Maa, who calls herself a godwoman, will be questioned today by the Mumbai Police on a dowry harassment complaint by a woman. Radhe Maa was denied anticipatory bail by a court in Mumbai on Thursday.

A 32-year-old woman has alleged that she has been “mentally and physically tortured” by her husband’s family at the instance of Radhe Maa.

The 50-year-old self-professed guru had sought protection from arrest yesterday, but was denied anticipatory bail. The complainant’s lawyer alleged that Radhe Maa was likely to “escape to Bangkok.”

“Our main objection to her bail was that she is likely to abscond and that is why she wants to avoid appearing before the police on Friday,” the lawyer said. He alleged that his client has received threatening calls since she complained against Radhe Maa.

Radhe Maa, the lawyer alleged, was the “decision-maker in the family,” and the complainant couldn’t step out of home without her permission. “She was forced to do domestic work at the house for Radhe Maa and whenever she refused she was beaten up,” he said.

Radhe Maa has denied all the allegations and said she was being dragged into the matter only because the woman’s in-laws are her “devotees.”

The police said earlier this week that the chances of Radhe Maa being arrested are slim as “no concrete evidence has been found against her in the dowry harassment case till now.”

Radhe Maa also faces allegations of cheating, obscenity and hurting religious sentiment. A city lawyer Falguni Brahmbhatt has filed an obscenity case against Radhe Maa, accusing her of hugging and kissing her devotees. She has alleged that the police have not acted against Radhe Maa despite her repeated complaints.

Radhe Maa was Sukhwinder Kaur before she claimed to be a spiritual guru. She is usually seen dressed in garish red and gold and holds a trident. Last week she trended on Twitter for days after photographs of her in a mini-skirt went viral.