Asaram Bapu's ashram denies land grad reports

The Asaram Ashram on Thursday denied as 'baseless and erroneous' reports that its founder Asaram Bapu was allegedly involved in a Rs 700 crore land grab case in Madhya Pradesh.

"The allegations on Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu are thoroughly baseless, untenable and rejected outright," Sunil Wankhede, central media In-charge at the Sant Shri Asharamji Ashram, said in a statement.

Reports had it that Serious Fraud Investigations Office of the corporate affairs ministry had sought prosecution of Asharam Bapu and his son in connection with allegations of grabbing 200 acres of land in Ratlam.

The land in question belongs to Jayant Vitamins Limited.

Wankhede said JVL had built Mangalya Mandir at Ratlam and established a Trust to maintain and look after the land in question.

"Shri Narain Sai is one of the Trustees of the said Trust," the statement said.

"As per our knowledge, initially in the SFIO report, there were certain allegations on the former directors of M/s Jayant Vitamins Ltd. on not following the rules and regulations of the company law and other related issues," it said.