Man wanted for attacking witnesses in Asaram rape case held by Surat police

“He broke down after seeing the evidence put forward by the Surat police that proved his involvement in the attacks on the witnesses in Gujarat and other parts of the country. He confessed to have hidden his identity, adding that he has been a staunch disciple of Asaram,” said a police source.

Police said that Sahoo’s wife was also shocked to learn about her husband’s past.

Two girls, who were once disciples of Asaram, had lodged a complaint against him and Sai, accusing them of rape in Surat in 2013. The case was later transferred to Ahmedabad from Surat.

Parmar also said, “ Sahoo along with one Kartik Basavraj and others were behind the attacks on the witnesses and their supporters in the rape cases lodged against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai. Later, in 2016, Gujarat ATS arrested Basavraj. Sahoo kept relocating and changing his identity. He had neither associated himself with any Asaram Ashram activities nor kept in touch with his family.”

“While on the run, Sahoo reached Faridabad, and started staying at an ashram in 2021. He thought that by converting to Christianity and staying inside the ashram, he could evade the arrest. He changed his name to Stephen Raj and worked as an electrician at the ashram. He met his wife, Manisha , at the ashram only. The couple shifted to Noida around a year ago,” Parmar added.

Anupam Singh Gahlaut, Police Commissioner, Surat, said: “Sahoo is a staunch supporter of Asaram Bapu and is involved in three cases of attack on witnesses and supporters in the rape cases against Asaram and his son. Both  are presently in jail. He is an accused in seven other cases of attacks and murders of witnesses and their supporters reported in Maharashtra, Haryana, UP, etc. The police were behind him since a long time.”

There are three cases filed against Sahoo with the Surat police.

In the first case, in February 2014, Umesh Thakker was stabbed by two persons on a bike at ESI hospital campus at Majuragate. The victim survived and lodged a complaint at Khatodara police station. The second incident was the attack on Rakesh Patel in Pal on March 10, 2014. Patel was attacked with a knife by two youths on a bike. Patel too survived and lodged a complaint at Adajan police station.

The third incident was reported on March 16, 2014, wherein textile trader Dinesh Balchandani was attacked by two motorcycle-borne men who threw acid on him in Vesu. He caught one of them and handed him over to the police. Balchandani recovered and lodged a complaint at Umra police station.