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 the 'Adhyatmik Vidhyalya' ashram in Rohini, while also ordering a broader inquiry into the functioning and management of the spiritual establishment. The order was passed on 25 August by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.

Background: Parents' Plea

The petition was filed by the missing woman's parents, who sought their daughter's release from persons associated with the Rohini-based ashram. The parents told the court they were in poor and deteriorating health and, given their advanced age, had no one else to care for them. The case brings into focus concerns about the influence of spiritual establishments over followers and the accountability of such organisations.

What the Court Was Told

Amicus curiae Aakansha Kaul informed the bench that she had spoken with two women present in court who identified themselves as followers of the spiritual order. Both stated that the woman in question was not currently residing at the Rohini ashram, though her luggage remained there. Two other women — Pragati, who said she lived at an ashram in Nangloi and had visited the Rohini premises on the day of the hearing, and Shyam Lata, who said she belonged to the same spiritual order but did not reside at any ashram — also made statements before the bench.

Ashram's Founder Reported Dead, Management Unclear

The court recorded a series of troubling facts about the ashram's internal affairs. According to the Special Public Prosecutor appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the founder and spiritual head of the ashram had been facing a criminal trial, had absconded during the proceedings, and was now reportedly dead. The bench further noted that despite reports available in a connected writ petition, there was no clarity on who currently runs the ashram, where its funds — and those of related ashrams — originate, or how these establishments are being managed. '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 CJ-led bench stated in its order.

Court's Directions

The Delhi High Court directed the SHO of Vijay Vihar Police Station to register a missing person case and conduct an inquiry into the woman's whereabouts. The SHO has been asked to submit a report and remain personally present before the bench on the next date of hearing to brief it on the outcome. The court also requested Sameer Vashisht, Standing Counsel for the Delhi government, to communicate the order to the concerned SHO and extend all necessary assistance. Relevant case details from the writ petition are to be shared with the police officer after record inspection.

Next Hearing

The matter has been listed for 31 August, to be taken up alongside a connected writ petition and placed 'High on Board'. The outcome of the police inquiry and the SHO's report are expected to shape the court's next steps in determining both the woman's safety and the broader accountability of the ashram.