JAIPUR (India), Aug 29: Police have given a popular Indian guru a Friday deadline to answer allegations of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, claims he angrily denounced saying he was “ready to go to prison”.

Police have summoned Asaram Bapu, one of many Indian self-styled “godmen” who attract large numbers of followers, over allegations he abused a teenage girl whose parents are members of his congregation.

The white-bearded guru has so far failed to report to a police station in the western city of Jodhpur.

“I’m ready to go to prison, that is also a kind of heaven for me,” an incensed Asaram told reporters Thursday in the central city of Bhopal, saying the claims against him were a political conspiracy. His office has previously rejected the allegations as baseless.

The incident allegedly took place on Aug 15 in Jodhpur, in Rajasthan state, where Asaram was holding a retreat for followers, including the 16-year-old girl and her parents, police said.”—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.