Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has been given no respite on Wednesday as a local court in Jodhpur rejected his bail plea. His lawyers said they will move to the high court for bail. The prosecution also said Asaram’s supporters tried to threaten and bribe police officials.
The court also ordered three-day police custody for Shiva, a close aide of Asaram.
The spiritual preacher received a jolt when the court rejected his bail application. Defence lawyers argued that he was unwell and had been framed in a false case.
His lawyers said it was media-made pressure that had resulted in his arrest. Asaram’s lawyers even questioned the victim’s age, medical report filed by the Jodhpur police and the contents of the FIR.
The prosecution lawyers contested these claims and said Asaram’s supporters were being involved in threatening tactics and had also tried to bribe police officers engaged in the investigation of the sexual assault case. Sources said Asaram’s followers tried to bribe assistant commissioner of police Chanchal Mishra when she had visited Madhya Pardesh to probe the charges against Asaram.
The officer refused to divulge the details about it but said what happened was the part of investigation. Asaram’s laywer Jagmal Singh said he was waiting for copy of the order and would move the bail plea to the high court. ‘It s court’s prerogative to grant bail or deny it,” he added.
Sources said messages were sent to threaten deputy commissioner of police Ajay Lamba. “Such messages were aimed to weaken the probe and linger on the case,” said sources in the police.
“We pleaded that Asaram does not deserve bail at this stage of the case, if he was allowed to get bail, he may influence with the witnesses,” argued additional advocate-general Anand Purohit.
He said the prosecution also produced victim’s birth certificate to prove that she was a minor.