Police on Thursday submitted a charge sheet against Asaram at a Gandhinagar court for sexual harassment and six others. The court has accepted the charge sheet and fixed January 13 for next hearing of the case. The court will also consider the accused’s request for copy of the charge sheet on the same day.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

In the charge sheet filed before chief judicial magistrate, the police have imposed section 376 (of sexual abuse) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) under Indian Penal Code against Asaram, while his wife Bharti and daughter Laxmi along with followers Dhel, Baglo and Dhruvi and Jassi, security guard of the Ashram have been charged with criminal conspiracy and other sections like 354, 353 and 343 of IPC.

Chandkheda police had registered an FIR against Asaram and others after allegation of sexual abuse by a Surat-based woman. Following this, Gujarat police formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case. While Asaram was on transfer warrant from Jodhpur, SIT in its remand plea had alleged that further inquiry of victims had revealed that other women in the ashram too had been physically abused. According to them, when these women developed complications, they were taken to an Ahmedabad-based doctor by one of the accused in the FIR — Dhruvi — for treatment or abortion.