HC relief to woman in rape case against Narayan Sai

The Delhi High Court today directed Gujarat police not to take any "coercive step" till further orders against a woman, whom it had served a notice to appear in connection with a rape case against Narayan Sai, son of self-styled godman Asaram, in Surat.
Issuing notice to Surat police, Justice Pradeep Nandrajog also asked them to explain why they wanted the girl to appear before them in Surat for recording of her statement in connection with the rape case lodged recently against Sai.
The court asked Gujarat police to respond by January 8, 2014 to the 28 year-old woman's plea seeking anticipatory/ transit bail for a week and said, "In the meantime, the respondents (Delhi police and Gujarat police) will not take any coercive step against the girl."

Challenging the trial court's order dismissing her plea on December 24, the woman, in her plea, said that the Surat police has failed to mention the reasons for which they sought her appearance before them.
The girl's counsel Maninder Singh, assisted by Dinhar Takiar, submitted before the court that even the FIR was silent about his client's role in the case.
"According to the FIR, the incident took place in 2001 and my client was in school at that time and she was no way associated with the spiritual guru's ashram," the lawyer said.
Appearing for Delhi Police, advocate O P Saxena said "Surat police in co-ordination with city police have recently raided the girl's residence here but she was not present".

Earlier this month, Surat police had served a notice to the girl, who has been associated with a magazine published from Sai's Rajasthan Jaipur Ashram, to record her statement in the rape case against Sai.