DG Vanzara says Asaram framed, seeks his exoneration in rape case

VADODARA: Retired IPS officer D G Vanzara, out on bail in the Ishrat Jahan alleged fake encounter case, today demanded dropping of charges against him as well as the rape case accused Asaram Bapu, saying the very forces who "framed" him also "falsely implicated" the godman.

"Same forces who were responsible for framing charges against me and putting me in jail are responsible for arresting Asaram and the charges against him (Asaram) too should be dropped," the former Gujarat DIG told reporters here.

A CBI court had in April relaxed bail conditions of Vanzara, a key accused in the alleged fake encounters of Ishrat Jahan, Soharabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Prajapati, and allowed him to enter and stay in Gujarat.

"As a police officer I have studied the FIR filed against Asaram and I am of the opinion that the charges should be dropped against him," said Vanzara who considers himself a loyal devotee of the self-styled godman.

Asaram is currently in jail in Jodhpur in connection with the alleged rape of a minor girl. He was also booked for raping a Surat-based woman.

Meanwhile, Vanzara also hinted that he could contest Gujarat Assembly elections next year.

When asked about which political party he is planning to join, the former IPS officer said, "That question will arise at the time of the election. Today, there is no question of choosing a party. Today, I am a citizen of this country and I am just a common man and as a common man I want to serve 6.5 crore people of Gujarat".

He claimed that cases against him, Asaram and Sadhvi Pragya, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, are fabricated.

The NIA recently dropped all charges against Sadhvi and five others in the blast case.

Vanzara was felicitated at a function organised by the city-based Gujarat Asmita Sangh.