New Delhi, August 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Delhi High Court has directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Vijay Vihar Police Station to register a missing-person case and investigate the whereabouts of a woman allegedly missing from an ashram in Rohini, while ordering a probe into the affairs and management of the spiritual establishment.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by the woman’s parents, who sought her release from the custody of persons associated with the ‘Adhyatmik Vidhyalya’ ashram in Rohini.
The parents told the court that both were elderly and in poor and deteriorating health, and that there was no one else available to look after them.
During the hearing, amicus curiae Aakansha Kaul informed the Bench that she had interacted with two women present in court who identified themselves as followers of the spiritual order. According to them, the woman was no longer staying at the Rohini ashram, although her luggage remained there.
The court noted that the ashram’s founder and spiritual head had faced a criminal trial, absconded during the proceedings and was subsequently reported to have died, as informed by the Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Bench observed that, despite material available in a connected writ petition, there was no clear information about who currently runs and manages the ashram, the sources of its funds and those of other associated ashrams, or the manner in which the establishments were being operated.
“In the aforesaid circumstances, we are of the opinion that the affairs of the ashram and the manner in which they are being run need to be probed and inquired into,” the Bench said.
The court also recorded statements from the two women. Pragati said she lived at an ashram in Nangloi and had come to the Rohini facility on the day of the hearing. Shyam Lata said she did not reside in any ashram but belonged to the same spiritual order.
Noting that the woman was reportedly missing while her luggage and other belongings remained at the Rohini premises, the court directed the Vijay Vihar SHO to register a missing-person case and investigate her whereabouts.
The SHO has been directed to submit a report at the next hearing and remain present to inform the court about the outcome of the inquiry.
The Bench also asked Delhi government Standing Counsel Sameer Vashisht to communicate the order to the SHO and provide necessary assistance. Relevant information from the connected writ petition is also to be supplied to the police after inspection of the records.
The matter has been listed for August 31 along with the connected writ petition and directed to be placed “High on Board”.
FOLLOW NOW
