BASAVRAJ AVANNA TALLOI.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Other, Amrut Prajapati murder

Gujarat

“Basavraj Avanna Talloi is a close associate of Asaram Bapu who was arrested for his role in coordinating the logistics for the murder of witness Amrut Prajapati. Talloi was granted bail by the Gujarat High Court in 2016.”

Basavraj Avanna Talloi (also known as Basav Raju) was a manager within the administrative structure of Asaram Bapu's ashram network in Gujarat. Following the arrest of Asaram Bapu in 2013, Talloi 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 Talloi worked closely with the contract killer Kartik Haldar. He was accused of providing Haldar with target lists, safe houses, and financial support, distributing over Rs 20 lakh collected from 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 and murder.

During his detention, Talloi's legal team filed multiple bail applications, arguing that the prosecution's case was built on circumstantial evidence. In September 2016, the Gujarat High Court, presided over by Justice P.P. Bhatt, granted bail to Talloi 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.

Talloi'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. Talloi remains out on bail in Gujarat, subject to ongoing surveillance by state intelligence agencies as the trial continues.