Asaram case: 'Ashram' warden surrenders before Jodhpur court

JODHPUR: A key accused and associate of controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu today surrendered before a court here.

Shilpi, the warden of Asaram's Chindwara 'ashram' in Madhya Pradesh, had allegedly conspired to send the girl, who was a student there, to Asaram in Jodhpur.

She surrendered before a local court here after Rajasthan High Court rejected her anticipatory bail plea today.

The District and Sessions court remanded her in police custody for a day. The hearing will take place tomorrow.

Shilpi had moved the anticipatory bail application in the High Court after a lower court had rejected her plea.

Shilpi had told the parents of the 16-year-old girl that she was under influence of evil spirits. She made arrangements to send the girl to Manai 'ashram' where Asaram allegedly sexually assaulted her in August.

Asaram was arrested in the case on September 1 and his aide Shiva was arrested a few days later.

Two more co-accused -- in-charge of hostel of Chhindwara Gurukul Sharad Chandra and cook Prakash -- have surrendered before the court on September 20.

Meanwhile, Asaram's son Narayan Sai today arrived at Jodhpur to meet his father.