Asaram’s petition to quash case against him dismissed

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Thursday dismissed a petition by spiritual guru Asaram Bapu seeking quashing of a case of attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy against him, following the attack on an estranged ex-disciple.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Akil Abdul Hamid Kureshi termed it “premature” since the investigation was still going on.

Raju Chandok, an estranged disciple of Asaram was shot at and injured in Ahmedabad last Saturday by two motorcycle borne men. Chandok, who had testified against Asaram and the goings on at his ashram before the D.K.Trivedi judicial enquiry commission, had accused Asaram and two of his followers for the attack. An FIR against the three was registered.

The Trivedi panel was set up by the government following the mysterious death of two students of the Asaram ashram in Ahmedabad July last year.

However, seven of the ashram staff got a temporary reprieve when the high court stayed a police probe in connection with the deaths of the two students.

The seven had been arraigned in the case by the police had approached the high court seeking quashing of an FIR filed against them in connection with the students’ death. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the investigations and sought a detailed explanation from the state government.