The father of the victim in the rape case in which Asaram Bapu has been convicted has filed an application in the Supreme Court opposing bail to the so-called godman, fearing that his daughter and his family could be killed by Asaram’s followers.
The plea, filed through Advocate Utsav Bains, said Asaram is highly influential and politically connected and has a force of millions of blind followers around the country. Assassin Kartik Haldar, who killed and attacked eyewitnesses, has confessed to the police as to who ordered the killings, the plea said. A total of 10 eyewitnesses have been attacked and 3 of them have died. It’s likely that Asaram if granted bail will organize revenge killing of the victim, her family, and eyewitnesses pending at Surat, Gujarat.
The victim’s father has stated that during the course of the trial, he and his family members were threatened with dire consequences. “Our nation unfortunately also on a frequent basis witnesses cases of honor killing and the father of the child-rape victim is apprehensive that his daughter and family could be killed in an honor killing by the followers/henchmen of the powerful godman,” the application reads.
It alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Police is yet to question, interrogate or arrest Asaram or even make him an accused after registering an FIR against him despite the fact that Haldar confessed to the police that he shot dead a key eyewitness on the orders of Bapu.
The victim’s father claimed that he has been threatened by the followers of Asaram and the government of Uttar Pradesh has reduced the security of the applicant and his family and they are again very vulnerable to murderous attacks by the followers of Asaram.
The applicant states that he and his daughter are very apprehensive now that they would be killed in the same manner if Bapu is granted bail for medical reasons. It is further contended that Bapu is a habitual offender and is facing trial for similar serious offences of rape before the Sessions Court at Gandhinagar, Gujarat and a criminal case before a Metropolitan Magistrate at Jodhpur.
The applicant has further contended that Asaram is making continuous efforts to secure bail on medical grounds at least since 2014. However, he has approached the Supreme Court on a number of occasions, following which the medical condition of Asaram was examined by a team of doctors and every time, his condition was found to be stable, his prayers for release on medical grounds were rejected by the Apex Court.
Read Also: Justice Sanjay Yadav appointed Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court
Earlier, the Rajasthan High Court had dismissed the bail application of Asaram Bapu with the directions to the district and jail administration to ensure that proper treatment is provided to him, in response to which Asaram Bapu had moved the top court seeking bail for his medical treatment at an Ayurveda center.