'Asaram is a notorious criminal': Annie Raja

Social activist Annie Raja on Monday alleged that self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu is a notorious criminal, and said the government should immediately take legal action against him.

"Asaram is a notorious criminal, as there are many cases are there against him. But because of his 'swamiji' image, many poor women do not have the courage to register an FIR. Now, things have come up, and it is high time that legal procedures should begin against him. The government will have to speed up the procedure, and evidence collection," she said.

Earlier in the day, protesters vandalized Asaram Bapu's ashram in Jaipur.

Police officials said this incident happened around 9 a.m. where a group of people resorted to stone pelting, and added that the investigation is on to identify the protesters.

The Surat Police on Monday issued a lookout notice against controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai.

The latest development in this regard comes a day after fresh sexual assault complaints were registered against Asaram and Narayan Sai in Surat after two sisters accused the duo of abusing them.

According to reports, two sisters have lodged rape cases against Asaram and Narayan Sai alleging sexual assault between 2002 and 2004.

According to the FIR, Asaram raped the elder sister at Ahmedabad ashram and his son raped the younger one in Surat between 2002-04.

Asaram, 72, was arrested on September 1 on allegations of sexual assault on a minor at his ashram in Jodhpur and is currently in jail.

Asaram 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.