Narayan Sai arrested with his aide by Delhi Police, Gandhinagar court denies bail to Asaram

Surat, 4 December 2013

Asaram Bapu’s son Narayan Sai has been arrested in Delhi today at around 1.30 am. Delhi Police Crime Branch team arrested Narayan Sai and his aide Kaushal Thakur(Hanuman) after establishing their identity. Narayan Sai was wearing t-shirt, pent and jacket with Sikh turban. Through human intelligence, Delhi police got information on Narayan Sai’s hideout in Punjab. His car was chased by police team and intercepted near Haryana border. He was later brought to Delhi where he was arrested with aide Kaushal Thakur after establishing their identity. Thus rape accused Narayan Sai has been arrested by Delhi police after 58 days efforts by Surat Police.

Surat Police Commissioner claimed that this was joint operation of Surat Police and Delhi Police Crime Branch. However Delhi police clearly stated that the operation was held only by Delhi Police.

Human intelligence and analysis of technical intelligence helped in arrest of Narayan Sai, said Surat Police Commissioner Asthana. He said Narayan Sai will be brought to Surat. Asthana said Delhi police’s crime branch contributed immensely to success of this operation. He said Surat police was in touch with Delhi police for last one and half month.

Narayan Sai will be produced in Rohini court in the afternoon and later brought to Surat where two sisters have filed complaint of rape against him. Delhi Police is also going to address a press conference on Sai’s arrest.

Update in the afternoon

I am being framed, Sai told his supporters when he arrived at the Ambedkar hospital for medical examination in the national capital from Punjab.

According to Delhi Police, 130 mobile sim cards, 6 mobile phones, Rs. 2.61 lakh cash and Viagra packet were the things seized from Sai’s car after his arrest. Delhi Police said it was Sai’s driver Ramesh whose phone helped to track him.

Asaram’s bail plea rejected

Gandhinagar court today rejected Asaram Bapu’s bail plea in rape case filed against him in Gujarat. Asaram is already in jail in another sexual assault case in Jodhpur.

Gujarat Police gets 24-hour custody of Narayan Sai

Narayan Sai was today allowed by a Delhi court to be taken into 24-hour custody of Gujarat Police which secured his transit remand for producing him before a court in Surat in connection with a rape case.

The court also gave transit remand of two others arrested along with Sai in the wee hours today from Delhi-Haryana Border by the Delhi Police Crime Branch.

“I grant transit remand of all the three accused for 24 hours which will start from 7 PM,” Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mor said.

However, the judge said he will sign the order sheet only if the Gujarat Police will produce the case diary and statements recorded against the accused persons.

While declining the plea of 40-year-old Sai seeking transit bail to appear before concerned court in Surat, the court said there are specific allegations against them and Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Surat has already issued warrants against them.

“They were conceding arrest. It was pointed out by the counsel for the accused that they were to surrender before the court, in pursuance of the CJM’s warrant or order.

“The said submission cannot be separated on the face as there are specific allegations against the accused persons and further the CJM has issued warrants against them. The investigating officer has also submitted that they have already arranged the mode of exit (for transportation to Gujarat) of the accused to the concerned court.

“The counsel’s arguments are not convincing. However, this court is confining itself to the transit remand,” the judge said.

During the hearing in the jam packed courtroom, the Gujarat Police sought 24 hours of transit remand of the three accused – Narayan Sai and his aides Ramesh Malhotra and Kaushal Thakur – to produce them before the concerned court in Surat.

The Gujarat Police told the court that due to law and order problem, they cannot reveal as to how they will take the accused to Gujarat in 24 hours.

Minutes before Sai was to be produced, his supporters clashed with a group of people protesting against him outside the premises of Rohini District Courts.

The drama unfolded outside the court premises when around 200 people staged demonstration in support of and against Sai.

During the hearing, Gujarat Police said that the CJM of Surat has already issued a warrant against Sai and he has also been declared an absconder by the concerned court.

Advocate Pradeep Rana, who appeared for Sai, opposed the Gujarat Police’s plea claiming that his client has been falsely implicated in the case and he was about to surrender before the court.

“I (Narayan Sai) was to surrender before the court. In order to harm my reputation, they (police) arrested me,” Rana said.

He argued that his client should be granted transit bail so that he could appear before the Gujarat court.

At this juncture, the court asked Rana, “Before I ask police about it, I am asking you as to why he (Sai) did not join the investigation and kept running away? You are saying he has deep roots in the society then why he never joined the investigation?”

Responding to the court’s query, the defence counsel said as mandated by the law, Sai tried to get appropriate legal remedy from the courts.

“He (Sai) is being victimised. He is actually wondering as to what is going on,” Rana said adding that the media has projected his client as a criminal.

To this, the magistrate made it clear to the defence counsel that “courts are not governed by media at all”.