SIT had prepared a list of 40 questions for the interrogation conducted at ATS office on SG Road.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned; much more so, when the woman allegedly falls prey to the ‘god’ she had idolised.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe alleged sexual assault by Asaram Bapu, made major headway in the investigation, when they cross-verified him and his Surat-based victim at ATS office in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The self-styled godman was “quite shocked” upon learning of the woman’s presence, said sources. In fact, they were in the same room during the cross-verification conducted by SIT but were facing in the opposite direction.
A member of the SIT stated the victim was brought in from Surat early on Thursday and had reached Anti-Terrorism Squad’s office on SG Road by 11 am. Before her deposition, police officials had briefed her to prepare her for the cross-verification against Asaram.
The SIT had prepared a list of 40 questions for the cross-verification, but Asaram didn’t initially respond to the queries. “For the first 35-40 minutes of interrogation, Asaram resisted but eventually agreed to having known the woman. He had wanted to make her a spokesperson of his organisation,” said an SIT official. The questioning also brought revealed 18 names, identified as sadhaks and ashram functionaries of Asaram.
They were involved in identifying and supplying the godman with more victims, said sources. Statements of the 18 named will be recorded to strengthen the case, said police.
The senior police officials, including ACP (Sector-1) and head of SIT, JK Bhatt, and ACP (Women’s Cell) Dr Kanan Desai, had arrived at the ATS office by 3.30pm, even as questioning went on till late evening.
Bhatt, when contacted, said the SIT had gathered a lot of circumstantial evidence based on the victim’s cross-verification. In addition, sources said that with the alleged incident taking place over five years back, it would be difficult to gather much material evidence. The concrete circumstantial evidence, such what was gathered on Thursday, would help build a stronger case.
Police, finally, saw their investigation bear some fruit, after many revelations during the day.
Thursday was the third day of Asaram’s remand granted to Ahmedabad Police till October 19.
How the day unfolded
A member of the SIT stated the victim was brought in from Surat early on Thursday and had reached Anti-Terrorism Squad’s office on SG Road by 11 am.
The self-styled godman was “quite shocked” upon learning of the woman’s presence. They were in the same room during the cross-verification conducted by SIT but were facing in the opposite direction.
The questioning also brought to the fore 18 names, which were identified as sadhaks and ashram functionaries of Asaram. They were involved in identifying and supplying the godman with more victims, said sources.
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