Another special prosecutor to be sought for Asaram case: SIT

Ahmedabad: Chief of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the sexual assault case against self-styled godman Asaram, said here on Tuesday that it would request Gujarat government to provide another special prosecutor to make a water-tight case against him.

"Looking at the sensitivity of the case, we will request the state government for another special prosecutor to assist us in the case against Asaram," Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP) (Sector-I) JK Bhatt told reporters here, when asked whether the SIT would ask for more legal assistance.

The Surat police recently registered complaints filed by two sisters - one against Asaram and the another against his son Narayan Sai - of rape, sexual assault, illegal confnement and other charges.

The complaint against Asaram was transferred to Chandkheda police station in Ahmedabad, as the alleged incident took place in his ashram here. The case is going on in Gandhinagar court as Chandkheda area falls in Gandhinagar district. The court sent Asaram to police custody and the police is interrogating him in connection with the case.

Bhatt also said that they would conduct medical and scientific tests on Asaram if they felt it was required.

"To procure evidence, if we feel that we need to conduct scientific or medical tests on Asaram, we would do it as per requirement," Bhatt said.

It is natural for the accused not to co-operate, but the police is probing every angle of the case, he said.

"Naturally, no accused co-operates during police investigation, especially when the case is such a sensitive one, but we are ensuring that no loopholes are left in our probe," the JCP said, when asked if the godman is co-operating with the SIT. Bhatt said that the four days' custodial remand would be utilised to collect evidence on the incident, the circumstances surrounding it and if required, Asaram may be taken to his ashram where the incident allegedly taken place. When asked whether both Asaram and the victim would be cross-examined, he gave a guarded reply that it would be done if it was required.

"If we need to cross-examine both Asaram and the victim, we would do so," the senior police officer said.

When asked why massive security is being provided to the godman, he said that it was the duty of the police to provide security to Asaram to maintain public order.

Asaram was brought to the city last night on a transfer warrant from Jodhpur, where he was in judicial custody on charges of raping a minor at his ashram.