Asaram undergoes medical examination at AIIMS

New Delhi, Jan 1: Asaram Bapu was today taken to AIIMS here amidst high security for examination by a medical board following a Supreme Court direction in connection with his bail application in the Jodhpur rape case.

Heavy security had been put in place to control his supporters who arrived in large numbers at the hospital to support the 76-year-old self-styled 'godman' who is in jail since jail September 2013.

"A medical board at AIIMS will examine Asaram Bapu and review his medical reports in connection with his bail application in the Jodhpur rape case. He has reached AIIMS and the process is on," said AIIMS sources.

The apex court on October 15 had directed AIIMS Director to set up a medical board to review medical reports and if required clinically examine Asaram to ascertain whether interim bail should be granted to him in Jodhpur rape case.

"We had reached New Delhi railway station to get a glimpse of Asaram Bapu. He is innocent. Allegations of one girl cannot betray the trust of others," said a woman supporter at AIIMS. The SC had earlier fixed December 3 for Asaram's check up at AIIMS but it was postponed after he refused to travel by surface transport.

Earlier, Asaram had moved a bail application in the apex court and had submitted a medical report by a Jodhpur hospital, which had recommended a surgery stating that he was suffering from trigeminal neuralgia.

The court then sought a fresh medical report from a medical board of AIIMS rejecting the bail application. There are charges of rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences framed against Asaram by a Jodhpur court in connection with alleged sexual exploitation of a minor girl in his ashram in Jodhpur.

PTI