Former IPS officer D.G. Vanjhara comes out in support of Asaram
Vanjhara held that the victim had never said that she was raped
Vanjhara held that the victim had never said that she was raped
Vanjhara held that the victim had never said that she was raped
Vanjhara held that the victim had never said that she was raped
Even as a Jodhpur court has convicted self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in the rape of a minor girl, former Gujarat IPS officer D.G. Vanjhara on Wednesday came out in his support.
Vanjhara, who visited 77-year-old godman's Ashram located in Motera, Ahmedabad after the judgment was delivered, claimed that there was no mention of rape both in the FIR and the chargesheet. Holding the copy of the FIR, Vanjhara held that the victim had never said that she was raped.
The former IPS officer, who has been an accused in many encounter cases and was acquitted in Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, has been one of the staunch followers of Asaram. Vanjhara said that he has never hidden his and Asaram's relation as disciple and Guru.
The way news is shown is an attempt to defame saints, he alleged. He, however, also said that he was not trying to defend the act of “inappropriately touching the victim”.
Questioned as to what he had to say about charges of rape against Asaram in Gujarat, he said that it was a different matter altogether and his observations were only limited to judgment of the Jodhpur court.
In Gujarat, security had been beefed up in Asaram's ashrams in Ahmedabad and Surat. Asaram's followers had gathered in both the ashrams to pray for his release.