Parents of boys who were found dead near Asaram's ashram go on fast

Ahmedabad: There is more trouble for self-styled godman Asaram. The parents of the two boys who were found dead near Asaram's Gandhinagar ashram five years ago have gone on a fast.

On July 5, 2008, the decomposed bodies of two young cousins were found on the banks of Sabarmati River behind his Ashram. 10-year-old Dipesh Vaghela and 11-year-old Abhishek Vaghela, who were studying at Asaram's 'Gurukul' in Motera had gone missing two days before that.

Their parents alleged that Asaram and his son practised black magic which led to the boys' death. A court in Ahmedabad will file charges against seven disciples of Asaram, but their parents say the government hasn't done enough because Asaram enjoys political patronage.

This comes at a time when Asarm and his son are also facing sexual assault charges. The Surat police have issued a lookout notice against Asaram's son Narayan Sai in connection with a sexual assault case against him. The notice has been issued as the police fear that Narayan Sai may attempt to leave the country.

An FIR was registered on Sunday against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai in a sexual assualt case in Surat. Both the complaintants are sisters in the case that dates back to 2002 and 2004.

The elder sister was allegeldy assaulted in an Ahmedabad ashram while the younger one in Jahangirpura in Surat.

"Initially they went to the ashram as devotees, but later they were made to do odd jobs. We are still investigating the case," said Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

The elder sister claims she was assaulted at Asaram's Ahmedabad ashram between 2004 to 2006 while she was working in the Ayurvedic medicines division. The younger sister has alleged that Narayan Sai assaulted her when she was studying at the Dambhoi ashram in Sabarkantha. The elder sister has also named Asaram's wife and daughter as accused, alleging that they assisted him in the crime.

The charge has been denied by Asaram's PRO who claimed that he is being targeted. "If this incident happened in 2002-04, then why was the victim quiet for so long and why is the case being brought up now? If Asaram is capable of committing such a crime, then why are people willing to be his disciples? Many women are his followers. They wouldn't revere him if he was a criminal," said Neelam Dubey.

Asaram is currently under arrest in Jodhpur for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram earlier this year.