FATHER OF JODHPUR VICTIM (MINOR).

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Family member

Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

“The father of the 2013 Jodhpur rape victim is a businessman from Shahjahanpur who filed the initial Zero FIR that led to Asaram Bapu's arrest. He sold his transport business and family assets to fund the five-year legal battle despite constant death threats.”

This individual (identity protected under POCSO guidelines) was a devoted follower of Asaram Bapu for over fifteen years, helping establish the local ashram trust in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. In August 2013, when his 16-year-old daughter disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by Asaram Bapu at his Jodhpur ashram, the father immediately turned against the organization, choosing to seek justice through the legal system.

The father filed the initial Zero FIR at the Kamla Nagar police station in New Delhi, which initiated the investigation and led to Asaram's arrest on September 1, 2013. Following the arrest, the father was targeted in a campaign of intimidation. The local ashram trust was vandalized by Asaram's supporters, and the family was subjected to constant death threats, requiring the Uttar Pradesh government to assign them armed security guards.

To fund the expensive five-year legal battle, the father sold his successful transport business and most of his commercial trucks. He refused multiple bribe offers, including a reported offer of Rs 30 crore from Asaram's emissaries, publicly declaring that he would fight the case to protect his daughter's dignity. He coordinated with prosecutor P.C. Solanki, ensuring the family remained steadfast during the trial.

Following the conviction of Asaram Bapu on April 25, 2018, the father expressed relief, stating that the verdict had restored his faith in the judiciary. He continues to live in Shahjahanpur under police protection, managing a reduced business. His role in the trial is documented in *The Caravan* cover stories as a key example of parental devotion and courage in the face of extreme institutional power.