'No one is above law', says Rita Bahuguna on Asaram Bapu's arrest

Commenting on self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who was arrested from his ashram at Indore by the Jodhpur police late last night, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Sunday said that no one in this country is above law of the land.

"No one is above law, law will take its own course, hope he will cooperate with the investigation," Joshi said.

"I think his (Asaram) arrest has been done as per the law of our nation. We should let the judiciary do their work. If he is not guilty, court would not enforce any punishment on him. I hope he will cooperate with the questioning," she added.

According to television reports, Asaram Bapu was on Sunday flown to Jodhpur by police, hours after his arrest from his ashram for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

The Air India flight AI-635 carrying Asaram left at 7.50 a.m and will land at New Delhi from where he will board another flight for Jodhpur, report added.

Asaram was arrested by the Jodhpur Police after midnight from his Ashram and was taken to Indore Airport escorted by a large posse police personnel.

His arrest came two days after he missed a deadline issued by the Jodhpur police to appear before it for questioning. His son Narayan Sai had claimed yesterday that the 75-year-old was unwell and could not be interrogated.

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.