A special court in Delhi on Thursday deferred for the first week of July, consideration on a charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against self-styled godman Virendra Dev Dixit for allegedly raping a minor girl at his ashrams in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in 1999.
The matter was deferred due to the absence of the investigating officer, who is on medical leave.
As per a CBI official, the central agency in its charge sheet filed in a Rouse Avenue special court, has pressed stringent charges of rape and criminal intimidation against the absconding godman.
The probe agency has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on Dixit, officials said.
The agency had registered the case against Dixit on an order of the Delhi High Court on January 3, 2018.
The CBI has alleged that Dixit, being the head of Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya, now changed to Adhyatmik Vidyalaya, and spiritual leader, was in a position to control and dominate over the complainant, a minor at that time, and raped her repeatedly in May-June 1999 at his ashrams in Kampil, Uttar Pradesh, and Vijay Vihar in Delhi.
Dixit had allegedly threatened the survivor that he will "cause injury to her reputation" and also issued "life threats" to her family, the agency alleged.
( With inputs from ANI )