The Calcutta High Court has directed the state authorities not to take any coercive steps against Maharaj Swami Pradiptananda, also known as Kartik Maharaj, who has been awarded the Padma Shri, in connection with rape allegations brought by a woman claiming to be his devotee.
Justice Jay Sengupta made these observations orally while considering the monk’s plea for quashing the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him. The court agreed to the petitioner’s request for an in-camera hearing and instructed that no coercive action be taken against him until the trial begins.
"The trial is to commence on Thursday. Till then, no coercive steps shall be taken," Justice Sengupta remarked while listing the matter for further proceedings.
The state’s counsel had opposed the prayer for an in-camera proceeding. They referred to the case of Asaram, who faced an open court trial before the Gujarat High Court, but this objection was not accepted by the bench.
According to the woman’s complaint, Swami Pradiptananda allegedly raped her multiple times between 2012 and 2019 after promising her a job.
As recorded in the official court document, a certified copy of the FIR was placed on record. The court also granted permission to the petitioner to file a supplementary affidavit with additional documents, including photographs, by serving advance copies to the state and the victim’s counsels.
Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of the alleged victim seeks to file Vakalatnama by 3rd July 2025. Let the same be filed in a sealed cover, the court further ordered.
On a prayer made by the counsel representing the state, the hearing of the case was adjourned for the day.
"Original certified copy of the FIR as filed in Court is taken on record," the court noted, while giving liberty to the parties to file relevant documents.
The matter will now be taken up for hearing on the scheduled date, with the interim protection continuing until the start of the trial.
