SC refuses to quash Asaram Bapu case

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to quash a criminal case registered against spiritual guru Asaram Bapu in an attempt to murder case.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to quash a criminal case registered against spiritual guru Asaram Bapu in an attempt to murder case. As a bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir declined to entertain Asaram’s plea, the guru’s counsel requested the court to permit him to withdraw his petition.

HT Image

“ I would request to withdraw my petition so that it does not effect my legal remedy in the future,” the counsel told the court. The bench did not accept Asaram’s defence that he wasn’t present in Sabarmati at the time of the alleged incident.

“I (Asaram Bapu) was in New Delhi delivering a discourse. As per section 114 of the Indian Penal Code, invoked against me, I am supposed to be present at the spot to abet the alleged incident of attempt to murder. However, I was not in the city at that time,” senior advocate Sushil Kumar told the bench on behalf of his client.

The Gujarat police had on December 6 registered a criminal case against Asaram after Raju Chandak, one of his followers, lodged a complaint alleging that Asaram Bapu was the mastermind of an attack on him.