Surat(Gujarat): A lookout notice was today issued against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu’s son Narayan Sai, a day after fresh sexual abuse complaints were lodged against the father-son duo by two sisters here.
“We have issued a lookout notice against Narayan Sai, son of Asaram,” Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.
“We have informed immigration authorities that a grave offence has been registered against him. This (lookout notice) is a precautionary step so that he cannot leave the country,” Asthana said.
Police teams have started investigation in the case and Sai is being traced, he said, adding that they have identified a few locations where he could be.
Yesterday, Asthana had said that they will interrogate Sai regarding the complaint.
Fresh sexual assault complaints were registered here yesterday against controversial Asaram and his son Narayan Sai here after two sisters accused the duo of abusing them.
Asaram, 75, was arrested in August on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl and has been in prison at Jodhpur in Rajasthan since then.
Police registered two complaints – one against Asaram and another against Narayan Sai – of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges.
The complaint against Narayan Sai was registered at Jahangirpura Police Station in Surat, while the one against his father Asaram was transferred to Ahmedabad as the alleged incident happened there.
The elder sister in her complaint accused Asaram of repeated sexual assault between 1997 and 2006, during the time she had been living in his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city.
The younger sister filed a complaint against Asaram’s son, accusing him of repeated sexual assault between 2002 and 2005 when she was living in their Surat ashram.
Since the complaint has been filed after a gap of six to seven years and the two women are presently married, police find it difficult in carrying out credible medical tests.
Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said, two FIRs under sections 120B, 376(2), 377, 342, 346, 354, 357 and 506 (2) have been filed against the father-son duo.
A large number of his followers flocked to the ashram in Jahangirpura on Sunday afternoon when they saw TV channels telecasting news about the complaints by two sisters.
In their complaints, the two sisters have also alleged that Asaram’s wife Lakshmi and daughter Bharati also aided and abetted in the assaults.
According to the complaint, the two sisters were working in the medicine centre of Asaram’s ashram as sevikas.
The elder sister was with the ashram since 1997, and was working as a sevika from 2001 to 2005. She has alleged that Asaram sexually assaulted her several times during this period. In 2007, she left the ashram and married.
The younger sister worked as a sevika in the Surat ashram. In her complaint she has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Asaram’s son Narayan Sai from 2002 to 2004.
She also alleged that she was taken to the Meghnagar ashram in MP, Kathmandu ashram in Nepal and Kushinagar ashram in UP, where she was again sexually assaulted.
After the Jodhpur rape case came to their notice, the two sisters, who hail from impoverished backgrounds, took their husbands into confidence and filed the FIRs.
Police investigating officer Munshi said he was yet to make on-the-spot inspection of the ashram. The woman had alleged she was raped inside Asaram’s ‘kutiya’ (cottage).
In the ashram, a special room has been built beneath the dais from where Asaram and his son preach sermons. Entry to this room is restricted.
DCP Shobha Bhutada said, much time has elapsed since the sexual assaults, and the need to conduct medical tests presently is being considered as unnecessary. If medical tests are required in course of the probe, they will be conducted, she added.
Dr Sunil Wankhede, a spokesperson for Asaram ashram described the charges as baseless. He said, similar charges were levelled against Asaram in 2008, and the sisters should have gone to the police at that time.
A large number of policemen have been deployed outside the Jahangirpura ashram to maintain law and order.
Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said, if required, police may seek custody of Asaram from Jodhpur court.