Surat: The Surat Crime Branch in Gujarat has captured Tamraj Shahu, a wanted fugitive linked to the high-profile Asaram Bapu and Narayan Sai rape case, after he had been on the run for a decade.
Shahu, involved in attacks on key witnesses, was arrested in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. He faced serious charges, including acid attacks, attempted murder, and homicide.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot revealed in a press conference that Shahu, a resident of Chhattisgarh, led a gang specializing in violent attacks, including acid assaults, stabbings, and shootings. His modus operandi involved renting a house near the victim’s location, monitoring their movements, and attacking when the time was right, before fleeing.
To avoid arrest, Shahu had converted to Christianity, changed his identity, and settled in Noida. He had nine criminal cases against him in multiple states. Shahu was a close associate of Asaram Bapu and played a pivotal role in intimidating and attacking witnesses who spoke out against the self-styled godman. At one point, he even attempted to acquire an AK-47 to carry out more attacks.
Following Asaram’s arrest, Shahu went underground, constantly changing identities and moving across states to avoid capture. A Rs 50,000 reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Police investigations are now focused on identifying those who helped Shahu evade justice, whether through shelter or financial support. Authorities are also looking into how many times Shahu met Asaram Bapu and plan to take legal action against anyone who aided him in his flight from the law.
Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, better known as Asaram Bapu, was a prominent Indian spiritual leader who had established over 400 ashrams and 40 schools worldwide by 2013. However, his reputation was marred by allegations of land encroachment, sexual assault, and witness intimidation.
In August 2013, Asaram was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, leading to his arrest on August 31, 2013. In April 2018, a Jodhpur court convicted him for the rape of the minor, sentencing him to life imprisonment under various laws.
Additional accusations arose in October 2013, when a Surat-based woman accused Asaram of repeated sexual assaults at his ashram in Motera, Ahmedabad, between 2001 and 2006. This resulted in another case, culminating in a January 2023 conviction by a Gandhinagar court for the rape of the woman. Asaram’s son, Narayan Sai, also faced similar charges. In 2013, two sisters from Surat accused Asaram and Narayan Sai of sexual assault in the mid-2000s. The elder sister accused Asaram, while the younger sister accused Narayan Sai. In April 2019, Narayan Sai was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple offenses, including rape.