Cases against seers not in interest of India: Vanzara

Ahmedabad: On a day a court in Rajasthan convicted Asaram for raping a teenager girl in his ashram in 2013, former Gujarat IPS officer D.G. Vanzara, who calls himself a disciple of the self-styled godman, said the victim was “never raped” and the entire case was of “inappropriate touching” at the most.

Mr Vanzara also said that attempts are on to sully the image of “saints” like Asaram through such cases, which he said is “not in the interest of the country, Hindus or Sanatan religion”.

A Jodhpur court on Wednesday sentenced the self-styled godman to life in prison after finding him guilty of raping a teenage girl in his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur five years ago.

While talking to the media at Asaram’s ashram in Motera area of Ahmedabad, Mr Vanzara said the entire case was aimed at tarnishing the image of seers like Asaram.  

“If you see the FIR as well as the chargesheet (of the case), you will not find any mention of rape. Even during the trial, the victim never alleged that she was raped by Asaram. As per the FIR, she was only touched inappropriately. Even medical tests of the victim confirmed that her virginity was intact,” claimed Mr Vanzara.

Taking objection to Asaram being labelled as “rapist” by media, he said the case against the godman pertains only to Section 354 of the IPC, which deals with “outraging modesty of a woman”, and not about rape.

“I want to tell the countrymen that the case was not about rape at all. I am sure that Asaram will be freed of all charges by high court once he approaches it,” he said.

Mr Vanzara said attempts are being made to “malign the image of saints like Asaram”, who he said was “not facing the charge of rape”.