Gujarat HC rejects Asaram Bapu's plea not to appear before the panel

In a setback to Asaram Bapu, the Gujarat high court rejected his petition challenging the order of the commission probing the death of two boys staying in his gurukul in 2008 to appear before it as a witness on December 1.

Justice Paresh Upadhyay, while dismissing the petition, slammed the religious leader for concealing the fact that a similar petition was filed in the court in July this year which was also rejected. The court directed him to deposit Rs25,000 as the cost of litigation.

"It is not only suppression of facts by the petitioner but can also be termed as a frivolous petition. The petition is hence needed to be dismissed," the court observed in its order and directed Asaram Bapu to deposit the amount within six weeks.

The Justice (retd) DK Trivedi commission of inquiry had earlier this year issued summons to Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai to appear before it for examination as witnesses.

The father-son duo had consistently and on different grounds delayed its appearance.

Asaram Bapu at one point last month requested the commission to visit his ashram at Motera or use video conferencing to question him.

On November 9, the commission, while rejecting the request, directed Narayan Sai and Asaram Bapu to remain present on November 11 and December 1, respectively.

On November 11, Narayan Sai appeared before the panel which examined him for almost eight hours.