The main eyewitness in the sexual assault case related to the son of controversial godman Asaram Bapu was shot at by unidentified assailants in Haryana on Wednesday, police said.
Mahender Chawla was shot at outside his house in Sanouli village in Panipat district, 170 km from Chandigarh, and two bullets hit him in the back, police said.
He was rushed to the Panipat Civil Hospital where his condition was described as serious, police added.
"We are trying to identify the assailants. Raids are being conducted at different places," a Haryana Police official here said.
Self-styled godman Asaram's son Narayan Sai was booked and arrested by Gujarat Police following a complaint by a woman disciple that she was sexually assaulted by him repeatedly between 2002 and 2005 at his ashram campus in Surat.
He was granted bail for three weeks by the Gujarat High Court last month.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app