First Salman, now Asaram? Godman accused of rape says he will be the next to walk free

A lot of people in India were left disturbed on Thursday when Bollywood actor Salman Khan walked free after he was acquitted of all charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case. [caption id=“attachment_2118265” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Asaram said he will be the next person after Salman Khan to walk free. Agencies[/caption] People on Twitter expressed their outrage. However, what is even more disturbing is that controversial godman Asaram, who is currently in jail due to a sexual assault case against him, said on Friday that after Salman, it was his turn. According to this India Today report, Asaram declared that he will be the next person to be acquitted after Salman Khan, adding that he was innocent. However, the circumstances under which Asaram made the statement while in prison is not known. Asaram’s statement comes even as his daughter-in-law in November had accused him and his son Narayan Sai of harassing her, according to PTI. The 38-year-old, in her complaint, had alleged that her husband Narayan Harpalani (his real name) had illegitimate relations with a lady disciple at his ashram, and when the woman allegedly became pregnant, Narayan had said he wanted to marry her. Janaki had told her husband he can marry the disciple after divorcing her. Narayan had allegedly tied the knot with her in Rajasthan keeping Janaki in the dark, the complaint said. Janaki had also alleged that under Asaram’s pressure and influence, her father Devraj Krishnani had donated his valuable property to the godman’s Bhopal ashram. The CBI had also begun probe into the murder of a prime witness in a rape case against Asaram. The 35-year-old Akhil was shot at by unidentified persons on 11 January this year. Subsequently, he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. He was a cook and personal aide of the 74-year-old Asaram, who has been in jail since August, 2013 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old schoolgirl. (With inputs from PTI)