Self-styled godman's accomplice claims threat to life

A city court Tuesday sought the response from Tihar Jail officials here on the plea of a co-accused of self-styled godman Shiv Murat Dwivedi, arrested in a sex racket case, seeking proper security for himself after other prisoners allegedly beat him up.
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Metropolitan Magistrate Ravinder Singh asked the Tihar Jail authorities to respond, by Thursday, to the application of Praveen, who alleged he was beaten up by other undertrials in the van on the way to court.u00a0
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Praveen, who gave a copy of his medical report to the court, also sought a direction to the jail authorities for ensuring his safety inside and outside the prison.
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The court, meanwhile, extended the judicial custody of Dwivedi and Praveen till April 5.
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Earlier, Dwivedi had pleaded before the court that he faced a threat to his life and sought a separate cell for himself in the prison.
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He was arrested Feb 26 and booked under the stringent MCOCA under which an accused cannot apply for bail for six months from the day of his arrest. A police officer of the rank of deputy commissioner only can record his confession which can be used as evidence in the court.
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Dwivedi, who belongs to Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, came to New Delhi in 1988 and initially worked as a security guard. He was arrested on charges of running a prostitution racket in 1997 and 1998.
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He then changed his appearance and started calling himself Ichchadhari Sant Swami Bhimanand Ji Maharaj Chitrakoot Wale. Under the cloak of spirituality, he again started a flesh trade racket, police said.

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