Self-styled godman Ashu Maharaj held for allegedly raping a woman and her minor daughter

The police on Thursday night arrested self-styled godman Ashu Maharaj, previously known as Asif Khan, for the alleged rape of a woman and her minor daughter at an ashram in Delhi.

Delhi’s Crime Branch also took into custody the Maharaj’s son Samar Khan for the same charges, according to additional commissioner of police (crime) Rajiv Ranjan. The police said that the father-son duo were interrogated for a couple of hours with questions regarding the case.

According to a police officer, the complainant, in her statement claimed that the self-styled godman, his friends and his son raped her several times for five years between 2008 to 2013.

The woman also alleged that Ashu asked her to bring her minor daughter to him and raped her as well.  Under the POSCO act, a case of gang-rape has also been registered.

Just last week, a case was at the Hauz Khas Police Station was registered against the self-styled godman and it was shifted to the Crime Branch on Sunday.

Reports in The Times Of India state that the woman, in her complaint said that she was a regular visitor to the ashram for her daughter’s treatment. The Maharaj would remove the girls’ clothes and sexually assault her.

In 2013, the lady was called to the ashram during Diwali by Ravi Shankar, the Maharaj’s manager who then raped her by giving her a drink mixed with sedatives.

The woman was threatened of dire consequences by the Maharaj if she spoke to anyone about the rape.

Also read: Supreme Court appoints panel to look into ‘harrowing torture’ of Nambi Narayanan