Jodhpur court allows Gujarat police custody of Asaram Bapu

JODHPUR: A court here today allowed Gujarat police custody of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu for interrogation in connection with a sexual assault case lodged by two Surat-based sisters against him and his son.

"The court permitted the Gujarat police to take him with them for interrogation," Manish Vyas, counsel for the victims, said.

Extending the judicial custody of 72-year-old Asaram and other four co-accused for additional 14 days, the District and Session court directed the Jodhpur Central Jail to ensure they appear in court on October 25.

Armed with a production warrant issued by a Gandhinagar court, a Gujarat police team had yesterday moved the Jodhpur court seeking permission to take Asaram with them for interrogation.

All of them were produced in the court this morning as their judicial custody expired today.

"The judge Manoj Kumar Vyas extended the judicial custody of Asaram and other co-accused including Shilpi, Shiva, Prakash and Sharad Chandra till October 25," Vyas said.

Surat Police had registered the two complaints -one against Asaram and another against son Narayan Sai- of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges.

Asaram was arrested in August on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl and has been lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since last 40 days. His bail applications have been rejected by both the District and Session Court and the High Court.