Jaipur: Rajasthan high court‘s principal seat in Jodhpur Wednesday dismissed a criminal petition over allegations about the condition and treatment of an 81-year-old spiritual leader, Swami Ji, calling the plea “misconceived and lacking merit” and imposing a cost of ₹5 lakh on the petitioner.Justice Munnuri Laxman passed the order while hearing a petition filed by NGO We The People Sansthan. The petition alleged that Swami Ji was being drugged and given improper care in the ashram. It also raised concerns over alleged irregularities involving followers, including claims that foreign disciples and associates were part of internal disputes and ongoing complaints. FIRs had been registered at Shivpura and Kotwali police stations in Pali on the basis of these allegations.Earlier, the court had constituted a medical board to examine Swami Ji’s condition. The board found “no evidence of drugging” and “concluded that he was suffering from age-related ailments”. The court also recorded that he was receiving proper medical treatment and that there were no abnormal neurological or psychological findings, except expressive aphasia with cognitive dysfunction.After considering the arguments and the medical report, Justice Laxman said the medical board’s findings prima facie demolished the petitioner’s claims.On the allegation of an improper police investigation, the court held that the petitioner-organisation was not a direct complainant and therefore had “no locus standi to interfere”.The court also examined allegations of financial irregularities in the ashram but found “no material on record to support such claims”.The petition was dismissed, with the court directing that the ₹5 lakh cost be paid to the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, Jodhpur.
