Expressing her anger over the statement made by spiritual leader Asaram Bapu's son that the teen who has accused his father of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur is 'mentally ill', Centre for Social Research (CSR) Director Ranjana Kumari on Wednesday said this is much more serious crime that you are trying to sexually assault someone who is physically and mentally challenged.
Kumari said it was unacceptable that even after the passage of eight to nine days there have been no arrests in this case by the authorities.
"And I think this is something which has to be seen in doing, this cannot be just something which is just being around for nine days, each one of us has said that if you have wronged a minor, a child, there is a law which is very, very strict," Kumari said.
"And today, I heard that his son saying that the girl is mad. Well, this is much more serious crime that you are trying to sexually assault someone who is physically and mentally challenged," she added.
Asaram Bapu's son has defended his father in the sexual assault case and has called the victim 'mentally unstable'.
Media reports said the remark was made before followers in Gujarat, even as the victim's father alleged that he had been getting threatening phone calls over the case.
Earlier, the victim had said in her statement to the police that she was threatened by Asaram Bapu to remain silent about the incident.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday and briefed him about the police investigations related to the case.
Gehlot after the meeting told media that nobody is above the law.
"Let me reiterate that police should not come under any pressure while conducting its investigation and it will not happen. Strict action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe," he said.
The Union Home Ministry had earlier asked the governments of Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh to send reports on complaints of sexual offence allegedly committed by Asaram Bapu.
The Union Home Ministry had in its advisory asked the three state governments to send reports about the complaints registered against the self-styled godman, status of the cases and findings of the probe.
Asaram Bapu had earlier on Tuesday defended himself in the alleged sexual abuse case, and claimed that it is a political conspiracy.
"It"s all a political conspiracy. I have faced many such dirty accusations in the past as well. There is no question of me taking anticipatory bail," he said.
A Jodhpur Police team yesterday delivered summons to Asaram in this case involving a minor.
The officials, who went to Asaram Bapu"s ashram to deliver the summons to him, asked him to appear before the Jodhpur police for questioning by August 30 in the case.
Asaram Bapu's aide Neelam Dubey has also defended him in this case of alleged sexual assault.
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 Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai ashram in Jodhpur with him on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.
The 16-year-old girl, who has accused the spiritual leader of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur, hails from Uttar Pradesh.
