Asaram's witness killing: UP IPS officer demands fair probe

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A senior Uttar Pradesh IPS officer has asked for a fair probe into the death of Akhil Gupta, a witness in the rape case against Asaram Bapu in Surat, who was shot dead on January 11 by two assailants here.

IPS officer Amitabh Thakur sent a demand letter to Meerut zone IG, Mukul Sharma yesterday calling for appropriate attention to the case and stated that the investigation body should not fall prey to elements trying to convert the case into a petty issue.

The case should not be reduced to one of loot or personal enmity, Thakur said in his letter, adding that the family of the deceased is under fear and mental pressure.

Ashish Gupta, cousin of the deceased and the complainant in the case told Thakur that since police recovered Akhil's money and goods after his death, there was no case of loot.

He also said that there was no personal enmity of the deceased with anyone and people were trying to divert the angle of the case, the letter read.

Three police teams, led by SP (City) Sarvan Kumar have been formed to apprehend the two assailants who killed Akhil Gupta last Sunday.

Gupta was a cook and personal aide of self-styled Godman Asaram, who is in jail since September 2013 in connection with another case of sexual assault on a minor girl in Jodhpur.