Approximately 600-700 supporters of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu protested outside the Kamla Market police station in central Delhi on Friday, demanding that the FIR registered against him in the rape case of a minor be withdrawn.
Agitated protesters gathered outside the police station at approximately 9.30 am. They raised slogans like 'Asaram Jindabad' (long live Asaram) and also accused the media of spreading wrong information about him and giving hype to a baseless news.
'After protesting there for a few hours the protesters moved towards Jantar Mantar. They did not harm any police official, nor did they damage any property,' said a police official, who had been on duty at the station at that time.
Later in the afternoon, the protesters also attacked a few media representatives near the Parliament Street police station, accusing them of giving hype to a case the authenticity of which is yet to be proved. Police has registered an FIR against the protesters and have also detained three people in the case.
A written complaint was registered on 15 August at the Kamla Market police station against the spiritual leader by a minor accusing him of sexual assault at the Jodhpur ashram where the victim had gone for treatment.
According to Chanchal Raj, spokesperson of the Jodhpur Ashram, 'This is just an attempt to malign Asaram Bapu and to misguide his followers. Bapu was alone at the Ashram between 12 to 16 August and did not meet anyone'.
However, officials of Jodhpur police who are investigating the case, had said on Thursday that prima-facie the victim's accusations seem to be true, but added that it can not say anything definite before investigations are completed in the case.
Agitated protesters gathered outside the police station at approximately 9.30 am. They raised slogans like 'Asaram Jindabad' (long live Asaram) and also accused the media of spreading wrong information about him and giving hype to a baseless news.
'After protesting there for a few hours the protesters moved towards Jantar Mantar. They did not harm any police official, nor did they damage any property,' said a police official, who had been on duty at the station at that time.
Later in the afternoon, the protesters also attacked a few media representatives near the Parliament Street police station, accusing them of giving hype to a case the authenticity of which is yet to be proved. Police has registered an FIR against the protesters and have also detained three people in the case.
A written complaint was registered on 15 August at the Kamla Market police station against the spiritual leader by a minor accusing him of sexual assault at the Jodhpur ashram where the victim had gone for treatment.
According to Chanchal Raj, spokesperson of the Jodhpur Ashram, 'This is just an attempt to malign Asaram Bapu and to misguide his followers. Bapu was alone at the Ashram between 12 to 16 August and did not meet anyone'.
However, officials of Jodhpur police who are investigating the case, had said on Thursday that prima-facie the victim's accusations seem to be true, but added that it can not say anything definite before investigations are completed in the case.