A court here has granted today one day custody to the Jodhpur Police of the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor in his ashram.
Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph earlier said that Asaram Bapu has been produced before a court and added that they have asked for his police custody.
"We have produced him before court now and asked for his police custody. We still have some issues to be completed therefore we have asked for his police custody. We have to take his version on evidence that we have gathered," he told media here today.
"Asaram Bapu is cooperating in the investigation process. Doctors have examined him and they say there is no evidence of him being unwell. We have asked doctors to conduct potency test," he added.
The self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who was arrested late on Saturday night from his ashram in Indore, was brought to Jodhpur, where he is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
The 75-year-old, who spent the night with police escorts at the airport lounge in Indore, was flown to Jodhpur.
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Ahead of his arrival, a strong posse of security personnel was deployed at the airport to prevent his large legion of supporters from staging big shows of support.
His ashram was sealed yesterday after some of his followers attacked the media for reporting that his arrest was imminent.
His arrest came two days after he missed a deadline issued by the Jodhpur police to appear before it for questioning. His son Narayan Sai had claimed yesterday that the 75-year-old was unwell and could not be interrogated.
Asaram Bapu has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.
The 16-year-old girl, who has accused Asaram Bapu of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.