Police claim Narayan Sai confessed to rape, custody extended

Narayan Sai, the son of controversial godman Asaram Bapu, has confessed to rape, police claimed today even as a local court here extended his police remand by two days.
"During our intense questioning, Sai has more or less accepted the rape allegations levelled against him by one of the two (Surat-based) sisters," Surat Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana told mediapersons.
Sai also revealed that he had physical relationship with eight of his female disciples and had a child with one of them, Asthana said.
Sai was interrogated in the presence of the complainant woman at one point, he said, adding that he was also quizzed intensely about how he evaded arrest for 58 days and who helped him in this period.

Police said Sai was also questioned in the presence of his estranged wife.
Sai and his aide Kaushal Thakur alias Hanuman were presented before the court today as their six-day remand ended. Chief Judicial Magistrate Jatin Thakkar extended it -- for both -- by two days.

Police said they also wanted to question him about the cellphones, pen drives and SIM cards that were recovered following the interrogation.
40-year-old Sai was brought to the city on December 4 after he was arrested from Delhi-Haryana border.
Two Surat-based sisters have lodged complaints against Sai and Asaram. The younger woman has accused Sai of rape and other offences between 2002 and 2005 when she was living at Asaram's Surat ashram, while her elder sister has accused Asaram of sexual assaults between 1997 and 2006 during the time she was living at his ashram near Ahmedabad.