BASAV RAJU.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Henchman, Asaram devotee (sadhak)

Gujarat

“Basav Raju is a close disciple and financial coordinator for Asaram Bapu who was arrested for his role in funding and planning the violent attacks on witnesses. Raju was accused of working with his wife to coordinate logistics for the contract killer Kartik Haldar before receiving bail in 2016.”

Basav Raju (also known as Basavraj Avanna Talloi) was a trusted manager within the administrative structure of Asaram Bapu's ashram network. Based in Gujarat, Raju was responsible for managing local trust funds and coordinating activities for senior devotees. Following the arrest of Asaram Bapu in 2013, Raju became part of a covert operations cell within the ashram that sought to silence former insiders and prosecution witnesses through physical intimidation.

Police investigations revealed that Raju, along with his wife Sejal Prajapati, worked closely with the assassin Kartik Haldar. Raju was accused of providing Haldar with target lists, safe houses, and financial support, distributing over Rs 20 lakh collected from wealthy devotees to fund the murder of witnesses Amrut Prajapati, Akhil Gupta, and Kripal Singh. He was arrested by the Gujarat Police in late 2015 and charged with criminal conspiracy, murder, and abetment under the Indian Penal Code.

During his detention, Raju's legal team filed multiple bail applications, arguing that the prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence and confessions made under police custody, which were not admissible as direct proof of conspiracy. In September 2016, the Gujarat High Court, presided over by Justice P.P. Bhatt, granted bail to Raju under strict conditions, including a travel ban and a requirement to report to the police weekly. This decision was met with protests from the victims' families, who feared for their safety.

Raju's trial has continued to experience delays due to the large number of accused and the multi-state nature of the crimes. His involvement in the case highlights the role played by middle-management ashram officials in executing the violent designs of the cult. Raju remains out on bail in Gujarat, subject to ongoing surveillance by state intelligence agencies as the trial continues.