Asaram Bapu's son defends his father, regrets attack on media

Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai on Saturday continued to defend his father, and reiterated that the self-styled godman is not guilty of raping a minor as has been alleged.

Sai further said that his father would cooperate with the Jodhpur Police once his health improves.

"I would like to reiterate that no rape or anything of that nature took place," Sai said.

"Bapu is suffering from Trigeminal neuralgia. He also has a slight blood pressure problem. Once Bapu's health is okay, he is willing to cooperate with the police. He respects the law," he added.

Apologizing for the attack on the media by Asaram Bapu followers earlier today, Sai said that he regrets the incident.

"We regret the incident with the media persons. I am very sorry for it," he said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari earlier in the day criticized the supporters of Asaram Bapu who assaulted journalists outside his Jodhpur ashram.

"It is very condemnable that the followers of a religious person have attacked media. Nothing could be as despicable as this. Whenever incidents like these takes place, all the facts and evidences are produced before the court. We hope that the investigation will come to a conclusion very soon and also, the people who were involved in the attack on media should also be investigated," he told media in Ludhiana.

Jodhpur Police sealed off the ashram of self-proclaimed godman on Saturday, following the assault on media personnel by the latter's supporters.

13 supporters of Asaram Bapu, today, were detained for attacking media personnel outside his ashram in Jodhpur.

According to reports, Asaram's supporters allegedly attacked IBN-7's reporter Bhawani Deora. Another IBN-7 video journalist was also injured in the attack.

On Friday, Jodhpur Police refused to give Asaram Bapu more time to present himself in connection with a case of sexually assaulting a minor at his Jodhpur ashram.

Asaram Bapu has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.

The 16-year-old girl, who has accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.