Asaram: A 'Guru' who preaches CRIME!

Updated: Monday, September 2, 2013, 16:46 [IST]

Indore, Sept 2: Type "Sant Shri Asharamji Ashram official website" on Google and you would be pretty impressed by Asaram's 'achievements', dedication and spirituality. Precisely, why people have a blinding faith in him and come flocking to his 200 odd ashrams across the country.

The recent developments in his life and in ashram might be an eye-opener for few, while others are still defensive of his "spiritual" powers. But, think of it again! Google Asaram again and you would find several sites displaying his past associations with suspected murder, extortion, land-grabbing and the like.

Asaram's ashrams have reported murder cases too

A self-styled guru who claims to have spent 70 days meditating in the Himalayas, is now preaching 'crime'.

2008: The bodies of two cousins were found decomposed on the banks of a dried-up river bed in the MOtera Ashram. In the year 2012, the Gujarat Criminal Investigation Department filed a chargesheet against seven office-bearers at the ashram in connection with the dual deaths.

2009: Raju Chandak, a former trustee of Asaram's ashram, registered a complaint saying that Asaram and his accomplices have been trying to kill him.

2011: The Gujarat government reclaimed approximately 67,099 square metres of land, which was encroached upon by the ashram authorities in Ahmedabad.

By this time, he had lost many of his followers, who could see the difference between a real spiritual leader and a self-styled godman. Hence, mysterious helicopter escape in Godhra (probably to reinstate his follower's faith) when he was on his way to deliver a lecture in an educational institution.

Asaram shot back to fame, again for the wrong reasons on:

December 2012: His casual comment on the December 16 gangrape case that the women should have begged for mercy by calling the rapists "bhaiya" led to a public outcry. Later, he said that his comments were being misread.

February 2013: Rahul Pachouri, a 24-year-old man, died under mysterious circumstances in his Jabalpur ashram. Relatives alleged that he was poisoned.

August 2013: A 16 year-old studying in his ashram alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by the 'guru' himself.

High time that we open the blindfold and check our beliefs!

In New Delhi

Police deployed at New Delhi Railway Station after Asaram's supporters tried to stop a train during a protest against Asharam's arrest, in New Delhi on Sunday.

In New Delhi

Supporters of Asaram Bapu being taken away by police after they tried to stop a train in New Delhi Railway Station, while protesting against Asharam's arrest on Sunday.

In Mumbai

Supporters of Asaram Bapu stop a train in Mumbai, protesting against his arrest on Sunday.

In Ahmedabad

People beat an effigy of Asaram during a protest in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

PTI

In Patna

Activists of National Students Union of India (NSUI) burning effigy of controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in Patna on Sunday.

In Jodhpur

Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu comes out of the District sessions court where he was produced after his arrest, in Jodhpur on Sunday.

In Jodhpur

Self-styled Godman Asaram Bapu's supporters outside the 1st Battalion of RAC training Centre where Asaram has been kept for further interrogation in Jodhpur on Sunday.

In Jodhpur

Police driving out supporters of controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu from RAC training Centre where he has been kept for further interrogation, in Jodhpur on Sunday.