IANS/Jodhpur

A court here yesterday sent spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a teenaged girl, to 14 days’ judicial custody.
As his supporters clashed with police outside, the bearded 72-year-old entered the Jodhpur Central Jail and was offered a ‘chatai’ or reed mat, a blanket and a mug for his prison stay.
“He is fine and is being treated as a usual prisoner,” a jail official said, referring to the ‘godman’ who has millions of followers in India and abroad.
A medical examination was conducted on him in the jail.
Giving his ruling amid tight security, District and Sessions Judge of Jodhpur Manoj Vyas sent Asaram Bapu to judicial custody until September 15.
“We have filed a bail application in the same court. The hearing is scheduled tomorrow at around 11am,” Pradeep Chaudhary, a lawyer for the religious leader, said.
Asaram Bapu was earlier questioned at a guest house of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary in connection with the case of sexual assault lodged against him by the 16-year-old girl, an official said.
The alleged attack took place on August 15 as Asaram was holding a retreat for followers, including the victim and her parents, police said.
He told the parents he needed to meet their daughter alone after being told of concerns she was possessed by evil spirits.
Once alone in his room, the guru allegedly assaulted the girl, who told her parents two days later.
The family then travelled to New Delhi to confront him. The guru refused to meet them, prompting them to go to the police.
The girl lodged a complaint on August 20, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur. Asaram has denied the charge, and his son has claimed the girl was “mentally unstable.”
Asaram was flown to Jodhpur on Sunday afternoon after his arrest from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Police questioned him on Sunday evening and yesterday.
His ‘sevadar’ (caretaker) Shiva, who surrendered to police on Saturday, was also questioned. He was formally arrested yesterday, a police officer said.
Shiva allegedly stood outside the room where the girl was assaulted.
The officer added that Asaram claimed innocence before investigators and denied the allegation of sexual assault.
“Asaram has co-operated in the investigation. But there are contradictions in his statements,” the officer said.
As the man was brought to prison, some 400 of his supporters shouted slogans. The protest soon turned violent, and police used batons to disperse them.
About 125 of them were detained.
The spiritual leader has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal Code.
In the prison, the man who used to start his day eating dry fruits will now be offered ‘channa’ (chickpeas) and jaggery.
Asaram has requested officials that he should be allowed to perform ‘satsang’ (collective prayers) in the prison every morning.
“We are considering the request as it would be a good recreation for other prisoners too,” said the official.
Asaram has blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi for his legal tangles. The Congress has rubbished the allegation.
Asaram sparked a backlash in January this year when he said a 23-year-old student could have averted a fatal gang-rape on a moving bus in New Delhi last December by begging for mercy from her attackers.
He told his devotees that blame for the assault should not just rest with her attackers, one of whom was sentenced to three years in a juvenile centre on Saturday, in the first verdict to be handed down in the case so far.
His remarks drew a chorus of condemnation from public figures.
Asaram has some 350 ashrams in India and overseas, where he teaches yoga, meditation and offers lessons on leading a spiritual and peaceful existence, according to his website.