Another witness of the Surat rape case against Godman Asaram Bapu was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday night. Earlier, Amrit Prajapati, who was the prime witness in the case, was murdered in Rajkot.
The victim Akhil Gupta(40) was shot dead by two unidentified criminals near Ganga Plaza in Muzaffarnagar when he was going on a two-wheeler, on Sunday night. Akhil, a native of Geeta Enclave in the city was the former cook of Asaram and had deposed against the self-proclaimed Godman before the Court. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harinarain Singh told media persons that police was investigating into the murder and three teams were formed to arrest the criminals. He said two motorcycle-borne criminals pumped bullets from a very close range on Akhil, who died on the spot. Police are investigating various angles including whether the murder was linked to Asaram’s case or it was a fa llout of old enmity, officials said.
Akhil worked as a cook and personal aide of Asaram, who is in jail in connection with a sexual assault on a minor girl. The Gujarat Police had recorded Akhil’s statement in connection with the case in 2013 before a court in Gandhinagar and he was considered an important
witness in the case.
Asaram and his son Narayan Sai are facing charges of raping two Surat-based sisters.