Jodhpur: Self-styled godman Asaram's aides Sharat and Prakash surrendered before the sessions court in Jodhpur on Friday in connection with the sexual assault case. Sharat is the manager at Chhindwara gurukul where the minor girl who has accused Asaram of sexual assault was studying.
Prakash is Asaram's cook who was reportedly present outside the room on the night of the incident. The anticipatory bail pleas of Prakash and Sharat Chandra at the District and Session Court (Jodhpur District) were withdrawn on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, Asaram's supporters rallied in large numbers outside the Jodhpur jail to catch a glimpse of him on the occasion of full moon. The jail administration increased the presence of police personnel outside the premises.
A unit of the Rajasthan armed constabulary was also put on alert. The Rajasthan High Court had on Wednesday rejected Asaram's bail plea and had said it will be heard on October 1. Asaram was arrested after a minor girl had alleged that the self-styled godman sexually assaulted her in his Jodhpur ashram.
Sacked BJP leader and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani representing Asaram in court had said the 15-year-old girl was mentally unstable and was afflicted with a chronic disease, "which draws a woman to a man", and said this was subject to police investigation.
The judicial custody of self-styled godman Asaram was also extended for another 14 days in the sexual assault case against him. Meanwhile, counsel for the girl, who was allegedly sexually exploited by Asaram had claimed to have received threats from followers of the self-styled godman. Lawyer of the girl, Manish Vyas, had claimed that the threat was issued to a friend of the girl's father asking him to withdraw the statements of her daughter against Asaram.
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