Jodhpur Police gets three days additional custody of Asaram aide Shiva

A local court granted Jodhpur Police three days additional custody of Shiva, a close associate of self-proclaimed Godman Asaram Bapu, to gather corroborative evidence in connectio with a sexual assault case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jodhpur, Ajay Pal Lamba on Thursday said the court had granted three days additional police custody of Shiva so that vital information could be extracted from him in connection with the case.

"Yesterday, Asaram's aide, Shiva was produced before the court, after the police custody got over. We have three days additional police custody. We are questioning him and whatever corroborative evidence comes out during questioning him, it will be an integral part of the investigation," he said.

Earlier, Shiva said that the accusations of sexual assault levelled against Asaram Bapu are baseless as he surrendered before the police at Jodhpur city on August 31.

A Jodhpur Court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of on self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who has been arrested in connection with a sexual assault case.

"Everyone is equal in the eyes of law. It has been proven today," said Public Prosecutor Anand Purohit.

The court had earlier sent him to judicial custody till September 15.

Asaram, 72, who was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh last week, had sought bail claiming that police erred in booking him under rape charge, which is non-bailable.

On Tuesday, Asaram created ruckus in jail over a demand for gangajal or holy Ganga water. The controversial godman reportedly claimed that he would not accept water without a drop from his bottle carrying

gangajal. This was, however, refused.

According to reports, Asaram recently cleared a potency test conducted on him by a team of three doctors, who established that he was not impotent as opposed to his claims. The test conducted revealed that he was indeed potent and capable of committing rape.

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.