Correspondent, Gandhinagar

The district and sessions court in Gandhinagar today acquitted all the over 200 accused and supporters of jailed Asaram Bapu in a case of alleged attack over police during a rally in 2009.

The court not only acquitted the 244 accused for the lack of evidence but also snubbed the police for its style of functioning with regard to the case lodged under the section pertaining to rioting and attempt to murder.

A rally by the Asaram supporters against raid on their Ashram and alleged harassment of sadhaks was organized outside the collectorate and DGP office here during which a scuffle between the police and them allegedly took place. More than 200 supporters of Asaram were arrested after their demonstration and were even jailed for around 3 months.

The police had claimed that 27 people with at least 20 police personnel were injured in the incident, including the then SP of Gandhinagar Piyush Patel and DySP KC Chudasma. The police had to lob teargas shells to disperse the violent mob. Inspector of Sector 7 police station and many other PSIs were also injured.

Three of Asaram supporters Kundan Javle, Maulik Gupta and Parmatma Mishra -who got injured in the incident were admitted to the Sal Hospital.

The statements of 122 witnesses were recorded during the course of the trial.

The court in its observation today said that there were many anomalies in the charge-sheet. The injury reports were also seemingly not correct.

– DeshGujarat