The Station House Officer (SHO) of East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar police station was taken off duty after photographs of him with self-styled “god-woman” Radhe Maa seated in his office chair surfaced on Thursday, October 5, reported Hindustan Times.

Six police personnel, including SHO Sanjay Verma, were reportedly shunted out on October 5. A video and photographs showed the policemen ushering a special welcome to the “god-woman”.

The incident

The photograph was taken on September 28 and it shows SHO Sanjay Verma standing next to Radhe Maa with a red and golden stole around his neck, even while he is dressed in his uniform. He can be seen standing next to Radhe Maa with folded hands.

The “god-woman” was ushered in with garlands and she met other staff at the police station who offered her a warm welcome. A few of them sang patriotic songs with her as well.

Her visit to the police station lasted for over fifteen minutes. Her Facebook page also showed a video of the event where one of the policemen were singing.

VIP treatment was accorded to her when she visited the police station in connection with a dowry case where a 32-year-old woman alleged that her husband’s family harassed her on Radhe Maa’s orders.

Probe ordered

Sanjay Sharma reportedly told Hindustan Times that Radhe Maa was on her way to a Ramlila in the area and she came to the police station only to use the washroom. She occupied the seat after coming out of the toilet and did not seek his permission before occupying it. “She occupied my chair for a few minutes… I folded my hands and asked her to leave. She is a religious figure,” he added.

Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik has ordered a probe into the matter and has sent the SHO in question to district lines with immediate effect. The probe will be conducted by another DCP level officer.

Who is Radhe Maa?

In September, a Mumbai-based court had rejected Radhe Maa’s discharge application in the dowry case. The court added that she was directly connected to the case. She faces charges under Section 298A.

In a separate case, the 53-year-old god-woman had been accused of obscenity, mental-harassment, fraud and cheating by a Mumbai-based lawyer Falguni Brahmbhatt, said a report by The Quint.

This self-styled “god-woman’s” real name is Sukhwinder Kaur and she hails from Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

Phagwara-based Surinder Mittal had lodged a complaint against Radhe Maa, seeking registration of a case against her in 2015 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, threatening and other offences under the Indian Penal Code.

The one who filed the complaint also had objected to the use of “Maa” in the god-woman’s name, said a report by the News18.

The Logical Indian take

The Indian constitution asks citizens to instill a scientific approach and asks all Indian citizens to follow the same. Policemen are revered as the guardians of law in our society. If the police are seen to appease “god-men” and “god-women” in such a manner, how can we blame the masses for having blind faith in them?

Providing VIP treatment to the ones who truly deserve it, owing to the virtue of their stature and their deeds, is a part of the protocol and is a norm. But meting out the same treatment for a self-styled “god-woman” accused in many cases, should be condemned. The virtue of being a “god-woman” or “god-man” doesn’t entitle one to get VIP treatment by the police. The Logical Indian community condemns such activities and urges the authority to look into the matter so that proper action is taken against the ones in question.