Asaram Bapu's close aide sent to 14-day judicial custody

A local court today sent an accused in connection with the murder of a prime witness in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu to 14 days judicial custody.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Garima Choudhary remanded Niraj Kumar in judicial custody till 17 August.

According to prosecutor DC Srivastava, Kumar was arrested by the Deoband police for his alleged role in a case of cow theft and cheating on 19 July in Saharanpur district.

During interrogation, he said that he provided arms and other goods to shooter Kartik Haldar for killing Akhil Gupta, a prime witness in a rape case against Asaram, it was claimed.

Gupta was shot dead on 11 January 2015.

Haldar was arrested by the Gujarat STF in March. He is lodged in a jail in Ahmedabad.

-PTI