Nirmohi Akhara seers 'purify' Asaram's ashram for Kumbh stay

Seers of Nirmohi Akhara today "purified" the ashram here of self-styled godman Asaram, who is in jail on rape charges, by sprinkling Ganga water as they took possession of the place for their stay during Simhastha Kumbh festival beginning Friday.
The sadhus claimed Asaram is "not fit to call himself as a saint for his acts".
The ashram, situated on Mangalnath area on plot no. 330/2 under Jiwaji police station limits, has been temporarily allotted to Nirmohi Akhara, officials said.
The district administration has taken temporary possession of private land located close to the area where the religious congregation is scheduled, and allotted these plots to Akharas for the festival.

"In view of the (Kumbh) Mela, the district administration has temporarily allotted the land having Asaram's ashram to Nirmohi Akhara some days back," the Akhara pontiff Suresh Das Ji Maharaj told PTI.
He claimed Asaram's disciples stayed put in the ashram.

"It is the land that has been given to us by the government for our stay during the festival. Today, we entered the ashram and removed photos of Asaram who is not fit to be called a saint because of his deeds for which he is in jail.
"We purified the place with Ganga water and by performing other rituals. Now we are going to stay put there for Kumbh," Maharaj added.

When contacted, Asaram's ashram manager Ramji Mitr said the seers of the Akhara have taken control of their place of worship.
"As of now, we don't have plans to petition police against seers of Nirmohi Akhara," Mitr told PTI when asked about their future course of action.
Asaram has been lodged in Jodhpur jail facing a case for allegedly raping a minor girl. The self-styled spiritual guru is also accused of raping a woman in Surat.