Controversial godman Asaram Bapu is running short on time as Jodhpur Police on Monday served summons at his Ahmedabad Asaram to present himself before the Investigating Officer (IO) on or before 30th of this month. Normally, police never serves summons to persons booked under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), but it is treading cautiously in this case as sentiments of Asaram’s followers are involved.
“Asaram Bapu has very little options before him and he will have to present himself before the Investigating Officer (IO) of Sursagar police station of Jodhpur Police,” a Delhi Police officer said.
Commissioner of Jodhpur Police had met the 16-year-old victim in his office on August 21 last and reportedly spoke at length with her. An official of Kamla Market police station, who accompanied the girl to Jodhpur, said that she was very firm while narrating the incident. She named all those who were instrumental in taking her to Jodhpur from Chhindwara gurukul run by Asaram’s trust.
Meanwhile, the father of the victim who runs a transport business in the Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh requested the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central district, Alok Kumar, for his personal security. He had petitioned the DCP that a police team should be sent along with him to Jodhpur as he feared for the safety and security of his family.
A police team from Kamla Market police station was sent to Jodhpur with the case file and it stayed there till the victim recorded her statement before the IO, Chanchal Mishra, of Jodhpur Police. Parents and the girl returned to Delhi on Monday morning accompanied by Delhi Police. They later left for their home in Shahjahanpur.
Annoyed with the alleged sexual assault on his minor daughter by the godman himself, the father of the victim withdrew two of his sons who were also studying in the Chhindwara gurukul. He was paying Rs3 lakh as annual fee for the education of his three children and also paid Rs19 lakh to Asaram Bapu’s ashram as he was a strong devotee. He later issued a statement after reaching his Shahjahanpur house that his family was brought under the spell of the godman and their lives had been ruined. There were reports of other guardians removing their wards from the gurukuls of Asaram after this incident.