Asaram Bapu supporters want FIR quashed

A spokesman said the girl's complaint was an attempt to malign Asaram Bapu

Around 500 supporters of Asaram Bapu Friday gathered outside the Kamla Market police station in central Delhi, where a minor girl had lodged a complaint alleging sexual assault by the spiritual leader, and asked that the FIR be quashed.

The supporters gathered at the police station around 10 a.m., and raised slogans against the police and the media, accusing them of trying to dent the image of the spiritual leader.

Later, the supporters of Asaram Bapu marched towards Jantar Mantar.

According to the complaint, the sexual assault took place Aug 15 at an ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where the girl had gone for medical treatment.

The girl, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, visited Asaram Bapu along with her family. Police said Asaram Bapu took the girl to a separate room on the pretext of treating her illness and sexually assaulted her.

A spokesman for the spiritual leader, who enjoys a wide following across the country and abroad, said the girl's complaint was an attempt to malign Asaram Bapu.