Asaram Bapu denies rape charge, says victim is like his granddaughter

INDIA TODAY ONLINE  AHMEDABAD, AUGUST 23, 2013 | UPDATED 19:16 IST

Supporters of Asaram Bapu hold protest rally at Connaught Place in New Delhi on Friday.

Controversial spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, who seems to be playing hide and seek with the law, addressed his followers at his ashram in Ahmedabad on Friday hours after a spokesperson said that he had proceeded on "ekantvaas".

In his address, the 72-year-old self-styled godman denied rape charge, levelled by a teenaged girl, against him.

"The allegation against me by the girl is false. Look at her age. She is like my granddaughter," Asaram said rubbishing the police complaint against him.

A defiant Asaram even dared the police to take action against him.

"I saw on TV channels that police are coming to arrest me. I was done with my satsang yesterday, but I came back. Where is police," he asked referring to reports of a police team from Jodhpur in Rajasthan going to visit his Ahmedabad ashram to arrest him.

Some BJP leaders, including Uma Bharti, have extended their support to the guru, saying he could not commit such a crime.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has directed the police to conduct a swift investigation into the matter.

According to the complainant, she was raped by the septuagenarian at his Jodhpur ashram earlier this month. She had filed the FIR in Delhi and a medical examination confirmed the rape.

- With inputs from Headlines Today

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/asaram-bapu-says-victim-is-like-his-granddaughter/1/301014.html

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