CID Crime raids Asaram Bapu's ashram

Ahmedabad, Aug 13 (UNI) A nine-member CID crime team today raided spiritual guru Asaram Bapu's Ashram in connection with allegations levelled against him and his son, Narayan Sai by their former volunteers.

The CID team apparently raided the Ashram in search of Narayan for non-compliance of its earlier summon of July 10, asking him to appear before it in two-days time for questioning.

The charges include misuse of ashram funds and sexual exploitation of women devotees.

Avin Varma (25), a former woman volunteer, who had spent more than six months in Gangoi Ashram in Himmatnagar three years ago, alleged at a press conference yesterday that Asaram Ashram is run like a brothel and Asaram's son Narayan treats the women members of the ashram as his wives.

Mahendra Chavda, a former employee of the ashram, also alleged that Narayan had threatened to kill him. He said ''when I was not able to collect big amount of funds for the ashram, Narayan used to beat me mercilessly''.

Veena Chauhan, president, Swayam Chaitanya Shaktipith, has been investigating irregularities at the ashram for last three years. She is considering to file an FIR against the ashram and the father-son duo to launch a probe in the malpractices.

The Ashram came into the news after the mysterious death of two minor boys.

UNI MP OBB AKJ AS1935