Asaram Bapu being taken to court in Jodhpur
Asaram Bapu, who is in a Rajasthan jail on charges of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, may be in deeper trouble with one of his former employees approaching the police claiming information about the spiritual leader's activities.
The Jodhpur police say a former attendant at Asaram Bapu's ashram in Ahmedabad has come to them with what could be crucial evidence in the cases against the guru.
The man, says Jodhpur Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal, claims to have worked at the ashram for 10 years from 1991. Sources say the man's statement will be recorded today.
"His statements support our investigation," Mr Pal said. But the police have not disclosed what he has revealed.
The 75-year-old guru was arrested in September after a teenager alleged that he had sexually assaulted her at his ashram near Jodhpur on August 15. Asaram had allegedly called the 15-year-old girl to his quarters to 'exorcise evil spirits'.
Last week, a new complaint was registered in Gujarat against Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai, after the two were accused of rape by two sisters from Surat. The police are looking for Narayan Sai, who has allegedly gone underground.
"We have set up different teams to speed up the investigation and collect evidence. Some teams are looking for Narayan Sai and question him when he is found," Rakesh Asthana, Police Commissioner, Surat, said.
While the elder sister has alleged she was raped by Asaram Bapu at his ashram in Ahmedabad, the younger one has accused Narayan Sai of raping her at an ashram in Surat.
Asaram Bapu and his son teach yoga and meditation and run 400 ashrams across India.