FIR SAYS ASARAM BAPU SEXUALLY ASSAULTED MINOR
NEW DELHI / JODHPUR:
A 16-yearold girl from Uttar Pradesh filed an FIR at Kamla market police station in the Capital on Tuesday, alleging that selfstyled godman Asaram Bapu had sexually assaulted her at his ashram near Jodhpur on August 15.
He has been charged under provisions of the Child Protection Act and several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 (rape) and 354A (assault or use of criminal force with the intent of outraging modesty). Even as a spokesperson of the ashram denied the allegation, the case was on Wednesday transferred to the Jodhpur police.
Asaram had earlier been in the news for saying that the 16/12 Delhi gang-rape victim should have called the rapists ‘brothers’ and pleaded with them for mercy.
In her statement, the girl said that she is studying at an educational institution run by Asaram Bapu in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh and that her parents are his followers. On August 7, she fell sick and her hostel warden told her she was possessed by evil spirits.
“The warden informed her parents that the matter was discussed with Asaram and that he had that the girl be him for spiritument,” a Delhi cer said, quotvictim’s state- August 14, she Asaram at his 20km from along with her The next night, her parents to pray for their outside a room. minutes later, his disciple to send the girl to his personal room.
I t was dark when she stepped in and found Asaram unclothed.
“He undressed her and outraged her modesty. He told her that her family members would be killed if she did not comply with his orders or if she told anyone about the incident,” said deputy commissioner of police, Jodhpur East, Ajaypal Lamba.
The girl narrated the incident to her parents. After learning that Asaram was presently camping in Delhi, they came to the Capital to lodge a complaint.
The case is the latest in a string of controversial incidents involving Asaram Bapu. I n February this year, 24-year-old Rahul Pachouri had died mysteriously in Asaram’s Jabalpur ashram. In 2012, the Gujarat CID had filed a charge sheet against seven of his staffers in connection with the death of two ashram boys in 2008.
He has also been involved in land grab cases in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.