Asaram summoned for questioning by Jodhpur police

Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was today asked by the police to appear within four days for questioning in connection with allegation of sexual abuse levelled against him by a minor.

"We have sent a sub-inspector with the notice to Bapu, which will be first served to his officials at his ashram in Ahmedabad and then Bapu will be approached for serving the notice, wherever he is," DCP (West) Ajay Pal Lamba said today.

"We have asked him to appear before the Jodhpur police within four days for presenting his side regarding the allegations levelled against him by the girl," he said.

Besides this, notices have also been issued to the manager of Chhindwara gurukul, hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai ashram with him on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.

"In the investigation so far, we have found the allegations of the girl to be prima facie true and now we are giving Bapu a chance to prove that he was not guilty," Lamba said.

Asaram, who was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Jodhpur ashram, arrived in Indore on Saturday for spending time in 'solitude'. His spokesman has denied the charges.

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.