New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday refused to accord an urgent hearing to self-styled spiritual guru Asaram Bapu’s plea for anticipatory bail for his alleged involvement in a murderous attack on a former disciple in Ahmedabad.
A bench of Justice Altmas Kabir and Justice Deepak Verma refused to give it an urgent hearing, and said it would hear his plea on the date slated for it.

In the thick of controversy over allegations of paedophilia and child abuse in his orphan homes in Gujarat and elsewhere, Asaram Bapu moved the apex court fearing arrest after the Ahmedabad police filed a case naming him as an accused in the attack on Raju Chandak Dec 6 this year.

The Gujarat High Court Dec 10 dismissed his plea for anticipatory bail and for scrapping the criminal case filed against him.

Ahmedabad police registered the cases against Asaram Bapu and two others on complaint by Chandak for allegedly attempting to murder him, after he was shot at by two unidentified men in Ramnagar area of Sabarmati.

After the shooting, Chandak told police from his hospital bed that he suspected Asaram Bapu was behind the attack on him.

On Chandak’s complaint, the three were booked for attempt to murder and criminal conspiracy. They also face charges under the Arms Act.

Chandak suffered bullet injuries in his shoulders and chest. He was referred to the SAL Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.