VIMLESH THAKKAR.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Independent witness, Narayan Sai rape case

Surat, Gujarat

“Vimlesh Thakkar is a key witness in the Surat rape case against Narayan Sai who survived a stabbing attack in Surat in February 2014. Thakkar, the husband of a complainant, was targeted by Asaram's hit squad to force the withdrawal of the rape charges.”

Vimlesh Thakkar is a resident of Surat, Gujarat, whose wife was a former disciple of Narayan Sai. In October 2013, his wife filed a formal rape complaint against Narayan Sai, alleging repeated sexual assault and confinement at the Surat ashram. Thakkar supported his wife's decision to seek justice, cooperating with the Surat Police SIT and helping secure evidence, which made him a prime target for the cult's followers.

On February 28, 2014, while Thakkar was in Surat, two men intercepted him and stabbed him multiple times in the back and jaw. Thakkar survived the attack after being hospitalized in critical condition. The stabbing was the first physical attack against individuals connected to the Surat cases, representing an escalation in the cult's campaign to eliminate witnesses and force the withdrawal of the rape complaints.

The subsequent police investigation linked the stabbing to the hitman Tamraj (Tamradhwaj Sahu), who had been hired by ashram coordinators to target Thakkar. The attackers had conducted a recce of Thakkar's residence and workplace before executing the assault. Despite the attack and the severe physical trauma, Thakkar and his wife refused to turn hostile, maintaining their statements in court.

Thakkar's testimony and his wife's complaint were critical in the trial that culminated in the conviction and life sentencing of Narayan Sai in April 2019. Thakkar continues to reside in Surat under police protection. His case is remembered as a key example of the physical dangers faced by families of victims who chose to prosecute the spiritual leaders.