Court grants 24 hours custody of Narayan Sai to Gujarat Police

Self-styled Godman Asaram's son Narayan Sai was today allowed by a Delhi court to be taken into 24-hour custody of Gujarat Police which secured his transit remand for producing him before a court in Surat in connection with a rape case.

The court also gave transit remand of two others arrested along with Sai in the wee hours today from Delhi-Haryana Border by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. "I grant transit remand of all the three accused for 24 hours which will start from 7 PM," Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mor said.

However, the judge said he will sign the order sheet only if the Gujarat Police will produce the case diary and statements recorded against the accused persons.

While declining the plea of 40-year-old Sai seeking transit bail to appear before concerned court in Surat, the court said there are specific allegations against them and Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Surat has already issued warrants against them. "They were conceding arrest. It was pointed out by the counsel for the accused that they were to surrender before the court, in pursuance of the CJM's warrant or order.

"The said submission cannot be separated on the face as there are specific allegations against the accused persons and further the CJM has issued warrants against them. The investigating officer has also submitted that they have already arranged the mode of exit (for transportation to Gujarat) of the accused to the concerned court. "The counsel's arguments are not convincing. However, this court is confining itself to the transit remand," the judge said.

During the hearing in the jam packed courtroom, the Gujarat Police sought 24 hours of transit remand of the three accused -- Narayan Sai and his aides Ramesh Malhotra and Kaushal Thakur -- to produce them before the concerned court in Surat.

The Gujarat Police told the court that due to law and order problem, they cannot reveal as to how they will take the accused to Gujarat in 24 hours.