The Surat Crime Branch arrested Tamraj Shahu, a fugitive involved in the Asaram Bapu and Narayan Sai rape case, after a decade-long evasion. Captured in Noida, Shahu, a Chhattisgarh native, led a gang that attacked key witnesses, employing violent methods like acid attacks and stabbings. He evaded capture by altering his identity and constantly relocating. Shahu was a close associate of Asaram Bapu, implicated in multiple serious crimes, including attempted murder. Asaram, a controversial spiritual leader, has faced numerous legal issues, including convictions for sexual assault. Investigations are ongoing to identify Shahu’s associates who aided his escape from justice.
Surat:
The Surat Crime Branch in Gujarat has apprehended Tamraj Shahu, a highly sought-after fugitive linked to the notorious Asaram Bapu and Narayan Sai rape case, after a decade of evading law enforcement.
Shahu, known for his involvement in assaults against crucial witnesses, was captured in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He faces numerous severe criminal charges, including acid attacks, attempted murder, and homicide.
According to Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, Tamraj Shahu, a resident of Chhattisgarh, spearheaded a gang that violently attacked witnesses in the Asaram Bapu case.
This gang was notorious for acid attacks, stabbings, and gun attacks. Shahu would often rent a property near the victim’s home, surveil them closely, and strike when the moment was right before making his escape.
To avoid being caught, Shahu converted to Christianity, assumed a new identity, and settled in Noida. He had nine serious criminal cases filed against him across different states.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that Shahu was one of Asaram Bapu’s close aides and played a significant role in intimidating and attacking individuals who spoke out against the self-proclaimed godman. At one point, he even sought to obtain an AK-47 rifle for further assaults.
After Asaram’s arrest, Shahu went into hiding, frequently changing his identity and moving across states to remain undetected. Authorities had placed a bounty of Rs 50,000 for any information that would lead to his capture.
Commissioner Gehlot mentioned that the investigation is now focusing on uncovering those who assisted Shahu by providing shelter and financial aid over the years.
Authorities will also investigate the frequency of Shahu’s meetings with Asaram Bapu and take legal action against anyone who enabled his evasion of justice. Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, popularly known as Asaram Bapu, is an Indian spiritual leader who, by 2013, had established over 400 ashrams and 40 schools throughout India and overseas.
However, his legacy has been tarnished by numerous legal challenges, including allegations of land encroachment, sexual assault, and witness tampering.
In August 2013, a 16-year-old girl accused Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Following a complaint from the victim’s parents, Asaram was arrested on August 31, 2013.
Later, in April 2018, a Jodhpur court found Asaram guilty of raping the minor, sentencing him to life imprisonment under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Additional allegations surfaced in October 2013 when a woman from Surat, a former disciple, accused Asaram of committing continuous sexual assaults between 2001 and 2006 at his ashram in Motera, Ahmedabad.
This led to another criminal case, which resulted in January 2023, when a Gandhinagar court convicted Asaram of rape, marking his second conviction of this nature. Besides these charges, Asaram’s son, Narayan Sai, faced similar allegations.
In 2013, two sisters from Surat claimed that Asaram and Narayan had sexually assaulted them in the mid-2000s. The elder sister alleged that Asaram was the perpetrator, while the younger sister accused Narayan of assaults at the Surat ashram between 2002 and 2005.
In April 2019, Narayan was found guilty under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape and unnatural offences, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)