'Cornered' Asaram Bapu continues to move freely, evades media

Even as the leaders of various political outfits and social activists demand tough action against in him in connection with the sexual assault case, self-styled godman Asaram Bapu continued to roam freely in Bhopal on Friday.

According to reports, Asaram Bapu was to catch a flight to Delhi from the Bhopal Airport. He, however, could not catch the flight.

The self-styled godman's supporters also manhandled the media at the Bhopal Airport. They did not allow the media personnel to question Asaram Bapu, who has not yet surrendered in connection with the sexual assault case.

Asaram Bapu and his followers have now left for an unknown location.

According to certain media reports, Asaram Bapu's son has said that his father will not surrender today, as he was unwell.

The Jodhpur Police said that he has till midnight to surrender for interrogation. A police team will travel to Bhopal to interrogate him there if he does not show up.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West), Jodhpur, Ajay Pal Lamba, earlier in the day said that they expected Asaram Bapu to appear before the police by this evening.

"We are expecting him by today evening and we hope he will turn up by evening. After interrogating him we will decide on further step of the investigation whether we will go for arrest or not," he told media in Jodhpur.

Lamba also said that a request by Asaram Bapu for an exemption for 20 days had been rejected.

Asaram Bapu has said the allegations of sexual assault are a political conspiracy crafted by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

"I don't want to oppose any party, but I've been told that all of this has been orchestrated by Madam and her son (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi). So, I said, let them do whatever they are doing," Asaram Bapu told media yesterday.

In an immediate u-turn, when asked, by a reporter, if he was directly accusing Sonia Gandhi of playing a part in leveling the accusations, the self-styled godman said: "No, I don't accuse anyone. I am just saying what I heard, since you (the mediapersons) asked me the question."

Asaram Bapu's son has defended his father in the sexual assault case, and has called the victim 'mentally unstable'.

Earlier, the victim had said in her statement to the police that she was threatened by Asaram Bapu to remain silent about the incident.

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 Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai ashram in Jodhpur with him 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.