Indian religious leader arrested on rape charge

E-Paper | March 16, 2026

JAIPUR: A controversial spiritual guru was arrested early Sunday on a rape charge filed by a teen-age girl in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan, police said.

Asaram Bapu was arrested at a spiritual retreat in central India and flown to the city of Jodhpur where police say he is wanted for allegedly raping the girl, said Ajay Singh Lamba, a top police officer.

The case is the latest in a series of high-profile rape cases in India that have fueled public protests and raised questions about how police handle the cases and treat the victims.

The girl filed a complaint two weeks ago accusing the Hindu religious preacher of raping her when she visited his retreat in Jodhpur with her mother. The girl's family says they have been followers of Asaram Bapu for more than a decade.

Asaram Bapu, who has hundreds of thousands of followers in India and is well known for his discourses on Hindu religion, has denied the charge.

There was drama Saturday when Rajasthan police arrived at his retreat to arrest Asaram Bapu. Hundreds of his supporters thronged the ashram and attacked television crews.

Asaram Bapu was questioned for nearly three hours before he was arrested, police said.

Asaram Bapu outraged many Indians earlier this year when he said the victim of a gang rape on a New Delhi bus would have been let off if she had addressed her attackers as brothers and pleaded with them to spare her.

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Ramesh Manghirmalani

Sep 01, 2013 12:04pm

So Called Guru, is not only has rape charges, he is home sexual

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Ali

Sep 01, 2013 01:04pm

dawn, tribune or baki news papers main jb b kbi anti pakistan ya pakistan ki badnami ki khabar ho to india sy brri unchi unchi angrazi main comments atty hn. indians yah koshish krty hn k apny mulk ko hmary liay aik model k tor py paish krn. ab es indian model incident py b indian comments anay chian mujy to bri hansi aa ri ha hahahahahhahaahhaahahaha bapu wo hi hota ha jo ksi female k sath sambandh rakhta ha bechara bapuuu

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johar

Sep 02, 2013 04:03am

As a Pakistani, I will not throw mud on Indians alone. We have similar people and must be dealt with. The educate lot of both nations must thrive for peace and avoid negative sentiment blaming each other or pointing to others faults making it universal across the board. Although we may have more rapes on the Indian side or more corruption on the Pakistani side, they are both equally affecting the lives of common poor/middle class people. PEACE AND taking care of such hidden cancerous issues is the way to prosperity. PEACE

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Anidesh

Sep 02, 2013 09:41am

@Ali: Rapist are everywhere among top religious leaders or higher level politics. Why don't you understand it in other way. People are protesting against these folly Babas.

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S. Lalani

Sep 02, 2013 01:30pm

@Ali: We should condemn these incidents whether they occur in Pakistan or India instead of ridiculing each other. Many fake pirs in Pakistan are accused of similar acts - do we have any answer for that? This is one area where people on the two sides of the divide can work together to eradicate such crimes from the society.

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Rajeev

Sep 02, 2013 01:49pm

People who forget the real religion and scriptures and go after such Godmen are to blame. There are hundreds of such Godmen in India who claim to be spiritual but live lavishly like kings thanks to huge donations from people. If a small portion of such donations are diverted to the poor people then India will not remain poor.

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Rajeev

Sep 02, 2013 02:01pm

Ali Bhai, An average Indian is only bothered about his life and people around him. People have enough worries in life than to try to be Model for some other country. Moreover evil people are present not only in India but in every country in the world including Pakistan.

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Azhar

Sep 02, 2013 05:47pm

It is unfortunately very old traditions and our ulture. I had witnessed in villages of Pakistan, ladies visit old tombs and meet the Babas. These come for many reasons, I.e., to beg a boy, or girl or ask how they can have love of their husband. Then, these ladies spent night at the tomb of a saint and many stories follow. Cleaning baba feet,offering massage are quite common. In india it is more common and acceptable practice. Now, it was a rape or mutul consent- is debatable. There is no solution of these ills. Men and women do cross lines. Although, Islam had very tuff rulings about it and offered many safety net for wonen, but, unfortunately, women are weak organ of society and they are literally on sale. I hope education will be avhelp.

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Sep 03, 2013 07:31pm

I wonder if this family, after following this spiritual baba for more than a decade, will STILL keep on following him and his teachings. Just food for thought. Don't they feel that they have literally 'wasted' a decade of their lives following lies?

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Syed

Sep 03, 2013 08:19pm

hahahah .... has anyone noticed the tone of the Indian trolls here.. were it an anti Pak post you guys should have seen the comments :P

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