Asaram Bapu threatened me to keep quiet, says girl

The minor girl who has levelled the allegations of sexual exploitation against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has said in her statement to the police that she was threatened by him to remain silent about the incident.

The girl has said that she was taken to Asaram's room at Manai ashram on August 15 night for a ritual for which he had wanted the two of them to be alone in the room, police said.

"Terrified by Asaram's threats, she did not speak about the alleged sexual exploitation immediately, but disclosed the matter to her parents only after they had reached their home at Shahjahanpur (in Uttar Pradesh) two days later.

"(Thereafter), her parents came to meet Asaram on August 19 when he was in Delhi," DCP Ajay Pal Lamba said referring to the girl's statement.

But since he refused to meet them, they immediately lodged an FIR with Delhi police who then referred the matter to Jodhpur police.

Having confirmed that both Asaram and the girl were present at the Manai ashram on the said night, police said that there was substance in the allegations against the godman.

"On the basis of the investigation so far, we have arrived at the conclusion that the accusations have substance.

"Now, we have summoned Asaram to appear before Jodhpur police to present his side of the story," said Lamba.