Case against Asaram: Court takes notice

PATNA: A Patna court on Wednesday took cognizance of the charges made in a complaint petition against self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu. The petition, filed by Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts (BSBRT) president Kishore Kunal, accused Asaram and his disciples of entering into a criminal conspiracy to defame the complainant and inducing people to believe that they would be doomed if cursed by the godman.
The case pertains to an incident of May 2009 when Patna’s additional district judge, in the light of a Patna High Court directive, ordered restoration of Patna’s Bhikhamdas Ram Janaki Thakurbari, illegally captured by Asaram’s men, to its lawful owner.
After the execution of the court order by the nazir of the district judge’s court with the help of an executive magistrate and police force, Kunal went to the Thakurbari to set up a school for poor students.
He was, however, confronted by Asaram’s `sadhaks’ or followers who allegedly indulged in violence and assaulted a writer constable of Patna police and the BSBRT superintendent. They also gheraoed Kunal and chanted bhajans saying whosoever does not toe Asaram’s line would be doomed for ever by the godman’s curse.
Asaram’s disciples also shouted slogans against Kunal on May 21 the same year, said Kunal’s petition to the court.
First class judicial magistrate Divya Vashishtha, after taking cognizance of the case against Asaram and his disciples S N Goswami and J Singh, fixed April 24 as the next date for issuance of summons to them.