IANS/Jodhpur

A court in Jodhpur in Rajasthan yesterday reserved its order on the bail application of spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, lawyers said.
Asaram, 72, is currently lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail after the court of the district and sessions judge remanded him in 14-days’ judicial custody.
The bail application is being heard by the same court of District and Sessions Judge Manoj Vyas.
“The court, after hearing arguments from both sides, has reserved its order,” Asaram’s lawyer K K Manan said.
Replying to questions raised by Asaram’s lawyers on why the police complaint was filed a few days after the alleged incident, public prosecutor Anand Purohit said the girl was in a state of shock and it took time for her to gather courage and file the complaint.
Asaram remained restless and was unable to sleep properly during his two-day stay in the jail, sources said.
They said Asaram was kept in a separate room instead of the barrack, and mosquitoes troubled him in the night.
“Asaram Bapu slept on a ‘chatai’ (mat) in the room. He sprinkled ‘Gangajal’ (holy water) in the room to purify the surroundings. A few prisoners looked after his needs,” the sources said.
Asaram was given milk and dry fruits. When he refused to take the food provided to ordinary prisoners, “dalia” (porridge) was cooked for him, the sources added.
The jail authorities, however, denied that Asaram was being given any special treatment.
“He is being kept as any other ordinary prisoner and no special treatment has been given to him,” the jail officials said.
Asaram, who was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, sought bail claiming that police erred in booking him under rape charges, which is non-bailable.
The girl alleged that the sexual assault took place on August 15 at Asaram’s ashram outside Jodhpur. The spiritual guru has denied the charge.