Gujarat police seek Asaram’s custody

Jodhpur  :  A Gujarat Police team filed an application in a Rajasthan court Thursday seeking custody of controversial spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, officials said.

The Gujarat team arrived in Jodhpur, some 350 km from Jaipur, Thursday after a fresh case of sexual assault was registered against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai by two sisters from Surat.

“A Gujarat Police team came to Jodhpur today (Thursday) and submitted an application to the district and sessions judge (Jodhpur rural) seeking custody of Asaram who is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since Sep 1,” a Jodhpur police officer told IANS.

In the application, the Gujarat investigators sought Asaram’s custody for questioning him in connection with cases registered against him in Surat.

The court would take up the application Friday.

The officer said the Gujarat Police team had brought a production warrant from a court in Gandhinagar.

On Aug 20, a 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur.

Asaram was arrested from his ashram in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and brought to Jodhpur Sep 1.