High voltage drama continued to revolve around the controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who reached Raja Bhoj airport here on Friday evening to leave for Delhi but returned to his ashram as he missed the flight. There was chaos and his supporters even entered into a scuffle with mediapersons at the airport.
Later on Friday evening, Asaram left for Indore by car. According to information received here, some journalists, who had gathered at the Dewas bypass road toll barrier spotted him trying to cover his face as his car sped past them.
On Friday morning, Asrama’s son Narain Sai had made it clear that his father would not be able to meet the deadline fixed by the Jodhpur police for questioning in a sexual abuse case by telling mediapersons that his father has fallen ill and would be staying here to receive “panchkarma” treatment under the ayurvedic system.
Two days ago, on Wednesday, the Jodhpur police had served Asaram a summon marking Friday as the deadline to appear for questioning in a sexual abuse case registered against him by Jopdhpur Police on a complaint lodged by a minor girl who was enrolled as a student at his ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.
Asaram had arrived here on Thursday afternoon to attend the last rites of his son’s father-in-law who died of heart attack earlier in the morning. Addressing media persons here on Friday, Narain Sai said that his father would be staying here till he fully recovers. He said that Asaram was supposed to leave for Delhi on Friday morning but his ticket had to be cancelled at the last moment. In an appeal to Asaram’s followers, Mr Sai said “he will recover soon and cooperate in the investigative process.” Just before stating this, he rambled and said: As soon as he recovers…. Well, he’s fine.”
Meanwhile, ignoring the summons, Asaram Bapu on Friday failed to appear before Jodhpur police for questioning and its team headed to Bhopal to interrogate him and make an arrest if he does not provide “concrete” defence.
As the chorus for action against 72-year-old Asaram grew loud, the Jodhpur police rejected his plea for extending the deadline for his appearance which ended Friday. The police said he is currently located in Bhopal.
“We have received a fax from Bapu on Friday evening stating that on account of his ill-health and death of his relative, he was not able to come in stipulated time and sought more time for appearance before the police for investigation. But we have decided not to give him any relief as we have no strong ground to believe, what he said in the fax”, Jodhpur DCP Ajay Pal Lamba told reporters in the desert city.
Regarding the possibility of Asaram’s arrest, Mr Lamba said that as of now the police had adequate and strong evidence against him enabling it to make an arrest but it will give him a chance to prove him innocent during his interrogation.