Asaram Bapu denies molestation charges

New Delhi, Aug 27: Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu Tuesday refuted allegations of molestation levelled at him by a 16-year old girl and asked why she had waited for five days before registering a complaint.

The victim filed a complaint at a police station in New Delhi Aug 20, accusing Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur city. A first information report (FIR) was registered against him in Jodhpur the following day after receiving a copy of the complaint from Delhi Police.

Asaram Bapu, who has thousands of followers, said the ashram where the alleged incident is supposed to have taken place was very peaceful and the slightest of sounds could have been heard. "Her parents were sitting outside. How could they not have heard if she would have cried out. I am supposed to have held her mouth for over one and a half hours," the spiritual guru told ABP news.

He said that after the incident took place, the girl went and met some friends nearby and didn't tell them anything. "She told her friends nothing has happened. I can produce the friends."

"If this (the molestation) had happened then she would have said something then. She went home after four or five days and registered a complaint," he said.

"If she was hurt then she could have told her parents or her friends. She waited for five days and then lodged an FIR," he added.

The spiritual guru denied meeting the girl alone. "I didn't meet the girl. I meet everybody, but the way she is saying it is completely false."

He said "the truth will come out" and he was not worried as he had faced much worse allegations in the past.

"I do not intend to take anticipatory bail but it all depends on my followers," Asaram Bapu said.

The Rajasthan Police Monday asked the spiritual guru to come for questioning within four days. A police team personally served a notice to him at his ashram in Indore.

He has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

IANS