BROTHERS OF JODHPUR VICTIM (MINOR).

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Family member

Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

“The brothers of the Jodhpur minor victim faced severe intimidation from Asaram Bapu's followers during the trial. Their educations and careers were disrupted, and they filed criminal complaints against followers who threatened to kill the family.”

These individuals (identities protected under POCSO guidelines) are the brothers of the minor survivor in the 2013 Jodhpur rape case. Devoted followers of the ashram, the family had sent two of their children, including the survivor, to study at the Chhindwara ashram school. Following the filing of the rape complaint, the brothers' lives were disrupted by the social and security challenges surrounding the trial.

The brothers were forced to discontinue their formal education and regular employment due to the security threats. In December 2014, one of the brothers was intercepted in Shahjahanpur by two identified Asaram followers, Narayan Pandey and Pradeep Mishra, who threatened to kill the entire family if they did not force their father to withdraw the rape case. The brother filed an FIR against the followers, leading to their subsequent arrest.

The brothers managed the family's local movements and assisted their father in coordinating with the police and legal team. They lived under armed guard for several years, unable to pursue normal careers or social lives due to the constant threat of retaliation from the cult's local networks.

Following the conviction of Asaram Bapu in April 2018, the brothers attempted to rebuild their lives in Shahjahanpur, though they continue to live under police security. Their experience illustrates the long-term, multi-generational impact of witness intimidation on the families of survivors who choose to seek justice. They remain in Shahjahanpur, supporting their parents.