The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has sought a response from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Saturday to know the status of the Adhyatmik Vishwa Vidyalaya, run by self-styled godman Virender Dev Dixit. The commission has asked the commission whether the institute was recognised by the regulatory body. It also sought to know if the UGC had received any complaint or representation regarding the operations of the institute, along with the details of action taken on such complaints. If not recognised, the women's panel sought to know what action would be taken by the UGC against the institute for using the word "vishwa vidyalaya" (university) in its name, thereby misleading the people. "It has been learnt that the said vishwa vidyalaya at Vijay Vihar and at other places across India has been functioning with the title of Spiritual God Fatherly University for decades. Hundreds of young girls and women have been enrolled as residential students of this institute at several centres across the country," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said in a letter written to the UGC. Virendra Dev Dixit is the latest self-styled godman who has spun a web of deceit across his ashrams in Delhi and elsewhere in the country. Investigations have revealed that Dixit, who is on the run after 48 minors were rescued from five of his eight Delhi ashrams alone during December-end, ran a sex racket in the garb of imparting spiritual knowledge. Raids are being conducted at other centres of his Adhytamik Vidyalaya Ashram across the country. Illegal activities had been going on at many of these centres for several years. Meanwhile, Maliwal strongly recommended that if the institute was not a university, it should be barred from using the word "university" in its name. She also said that strict action should be taken against the management of the institute for wrongly claiming it to be a university. "Considering the gravity of the matter, you are requested to please provide the above-mentioned information latest by January 12," the DCW chief said in her letter.

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