Jodhpur police said they will wait until 30th August and if the self-styled godman fails to appear before them for questioning, then would take further action
Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor, will face arrest if he fails to appear before the Jodhpur Police on Friday.
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph told reporters that, “We will wait until 30th August as per the deadline of the summons served on him and if he fails to turn up by Friday, we will send a team to arrest him on 31st August”.
72-year-old Asaram had sought extension in the date of appearance before the investigation officer of the case at Jodhpur citing he had various pre-decided religious fixtures lined up till 19th September.
Yesterday, DCP Ajay Pal Lamba had said that police will wait till 30th August and if the self-styled godman fails to appear before them for questioning, further course of action would be decided on that day.
Meanwhile, three other accused, including Shilpi (the warden of the hostel at Gurukul), Keshav (attendant of Gurukul) and Shiva (caretaker of Asaram, who was with him at Manai ashram on the day of incident) will appear before the investigating officer for interrogation.
According to the DCP, Shilpi and Keshav had sent the 16-year-old girl to Jodhpur for a ritual to ward off evil spirits for which Asaram had wanted to be alone in the room with the minor on the night of 15th August, and Shiva had threatened the girl against disclosing the incident to anyone.
Asaram’s son Narayan Sai, in comments, which could stroke a controversy, had claimed that the minor girl who levelled the allegations is “mentally unstable”.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav has said, "Asaram Bapu is making mockery of law. It also shows the failure of the government that no action has been taken against him yet."
After meeting the supporters of the self-styled godman, the JD-U chief said, "I told his supporters to go to police station instead of coming here. He (Asaram) should surrender to the law and join the investigation".
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