File pic of Asaram Bapu, who has been alleged to have sexually assaulted a minor
Police today issued summons to spiritual leader Asaram Bapu in connection with allegations of sexual abuse levelled against him by a minor. According to sources, he has been given four to appear before the police for questioning in the case.
The Jodhpur Police has reportedly gathered crucial evidence against the spiritual leader. Police officials told NDTV last week that the description of the scene of crime matches with the details given by the 15-year-old girl in the First Information Report.
Asaram Bapu has also reportedly admitted that he met the girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, but has denied her allegations of a sexual assault.
The girl, who is from Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, has alleged in her complaint that Asaram Bapu had asked her to stay back after prayers last week and then sexually assaulted her as her mother waited outside.
The girl has said that when her father brought her to Delhi to meet the spiritual leader at a camp earlier this month, he left without meeting them. Her father then lodged a complaint with the police.
The girl's family says they have been followers of Asaram Bapu for the past 12 years.
The 15-year-old had submitted a written complaint against Asaram Bapu at Kamala Market police station in central Delhi on Tuesday evening. Her father had reportedly insisted that the case should be registered in Delhi, saying it will be suppressed in Rajasthan. A Delhi Police official said a case was registered but was later transferred to Jodhpur.
Asaram Bapu was also severely criticised for his remark in the gang-rape case of a 23-year-old student in Delhi when he said the girl could have escaped rape if she had called her attackers brothers, and pleaded to be let off.