Asaram's former aide Amrut Prajapati dies

Prajapati had been battling for his life ever since he was attacked by two unidentified assailants in Rajkot on May 23

More than two weeks after he was shot at from close range, jailed self-styled godman Asaram's former aide and Ayurveda doctor Amrut Prajapati died here today at his residence.

Prajapati, who had been battling for life ever since he was attacked by two unidentified assailants in Rajkot on May 23, passed away at his house in Odhav area this morning.

"At around 7am, he fell unconscious at his home. His wife called me. I rushed to his house and took Prajapati to the civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead by doctors," said maternal uncle Moti Prajapati.

Since Prajapati raised his voice against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai for the last many years and particularly after two Surat based sisters alleged rape on them, Prajapati's family members alleged that firing was done on the behest of Asaram and Sai.

"After firing, Prajapati gave names of five suspected persons behind the attack. He even gave phone numbers and addresses of these men. However, no one is arrested yet by Rajkot police," said Moti Prajapati.

"Asaram is behind the murder of my husband. We many a times told the police about possible attack on him, but no-one took it seriously. I don't trust the local police and demand a high level enquiry into the murder of my husband," said Prajapati's wife Saroj while speaking to media at civil hospital.

Prajapati was a qualified ayurveda practitioner and worked as the personal doctor to godman Asaram for almost 12 years during late 90s. Around 15 years back, Prajapati left the Motera based Asaram ashram owing to differences with his Guru.

Later, he levelled serious allegations against Asaram after the deaths of two teenage boys living in ashram.

Before he was shot at in Rajkot, Prajapati was attacked more than seven times after which he started keeping a licensed revolver with himself for safety.