04 March,2009 07:40 AM IST | | MiD DAY Correspondent
No, they didn't, says girl; I joined the ashram voluntarily
A businessman's complaint that his daughter was abducted by an ashram in Chennai fell flat when his daughter said it was her father who was the villain of the piece.
Lakeraj B (64), filed a complaint with Banaswadi police saying his daughter Deepa, 24, had been abducted by Jain Sthanak Bhavan, a Jain ashram in Chennai. He said he visited the ashram with his wife and daughter for medical treatment last December. But after they returned, he alleged that Deepa had gone missing mysteriously in January. Lakeraj finally traced her to the ashram.
He further alleged that when he went to get his daughter back, the ashram management intimidated him. But he managed to bring her back with the help of the local people. Lakeraj also blamed the local police in his complaint saying they were ineffective while dealing with the problem. I approached the police several times but they did not help me, he said during the court hearing.
Deepa's version
When Banaswadi police began investigations based on the court direction, Deepa admitted that she had voluntarily joined the ashram to do social service and had even filed an affidavit.
She is a major and has every right to do what she wants, police said, adding that Deepa blamed her father for playing the villain. "He locked me in the house and forced me to do things against my wishes," she said.
"We are ready to help Lakeraj and bring back his daughter if she is in trouble," police said.
