File photo of Asaram Bapu
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, whose police custody in connection with the sexual assault case got over today, was taken into judicial custody and taken back to Jodhpur by the Special Investigating Team (SIT), which is conducting the probe.
"Asaram was sent to judicial custody after his police remand got over today. He was then taken to Sabarmati Central Jail from the court," Asaram's lawyer BM Gupta said.
Asaram has been lodged in jail since August after a minor girl accused him of sexually assaulting her at one of his ashrams.
The 75-year-old was brought to Ahmedabad last week on a transit remand and thereafter, quizzed extensively.
Surat police had recently registered two more complaints - one against Asaram and another against his son Narayan Sai - of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges as alleged by two Surat-based sisters.
The elder of the two sisters, in her complaint, had accused Asaram of repeated sexual assault during the time she had been living in his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city.
The younger sister had filed a complaint against Narayan Sai, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in a Surat ashram.
The Gujarat High Court is hearing petitions by both Asaram and his son seeking to quash FIRs against them in connection with the Surat case. The hearing will continue tomorrow.
Narayan Sai's counsel Nirupam Nanavati said that the FIR is totally "false and tailored".
Asaram's counsel Yatin Oza argued that the FIR was a "figment of imagination" and it did not inspire confidence even to a layman. He further said that the delay in filing it is absolutely unexplainable.
Oza alleged that there was intense media pressure behind the case and police are investigating on the lines of pressure created by media organisations and lawyers are also arguing on the same lines.