CHANDRASHEKHAR (ASSOCIATE).

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Other, Asaram witness attacks

Surat, Gujarat

“Chandrashekhar is a co-conspirator and associate in the witness attack campaign who worked with Kishore Bodke. Chandrashekhar was involved in planning the assaults on Dinesh Bhavchandani and Vimlesh Thakkar in 2014.”

Chandrashekhar was an active member of the Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu Ashram network who worked in administrative and security roles. Following the filing of rape complaints in 2013, he joined the covert hit squad led by Tamraj and Kishore Bodke, participating in the planning and execution of physical attacks against former insiders cooperating with the police.

Investigations by the Gujarat Police SIT linked Chandrashekhar to the planning of the stabbing of Vimlesh Thakkar in February 2014 and the acid attack on witness helper Dinesh Bhavchandani in March 2014. He was accused of conducting surveillance on the targets and helping arrange logistics and payments for the attackers, representing a key middle-level coordinator within the hit squad.

He was arrested by the Gujarat Police during a crackdown on the local network in late 2015. During his detention, the prosecution presented call records showing constant communication between Chandrashekhar and other co-conspirators before and after the attacks. His bail applications were rejected by the sessions court, citing the risk of further witness intimidation.

Chandrashekhar remains a co-accused in the witness attack conspiracy trials in Gujarat. His case is a significant detail in the legal proceedings, illustrating the extensive local network that was deployed to protect the cult's leadership. He remains under judicial custody in Gujarat as the trials proceed.