Asaram's close aide sent to judicial custody

A local court today sent an accused in connection with the murder of a prime witness in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu to 14 days judicial custody.

Chief JudicialMagistrate Garima Choudhary remanded Niraj Kumar in judicial custody till August 17.

According to prosecutor D C Srivastava, Kumar was arrested by the Deoband police for his alleged role in a case of cow theft and cheating on July 19 in Saharanpur district.

During interrogation, he said that he provided arms and other goods to shooter Kartik Haldar for killing Akhil Gupta, a prime witness in a rape case against Asaram, it was claimed.
 

Gupta was shot dead on January 11, 2015.

Haldar was arrested by the Gujarat STF in March. He is lodged in a jail in Ahmedabad.