Man wanted for murder of Asaram's ex-aide in Rajkot held after 10 years from Karnataka
Rajkot, Jan 10: A man wanted in connection with the murder of self-styled godman Asaram's former associate and Ayurveda doctor Amrut Prajapati at his clinic in Gujarat's Rajkot city has been arrested after more than 10 years, police officials said on Friday.
The accused, Kishor Bodke, was nabbed by the Gujarat police from an ashram in Kalaburagi town in Karnataka, where he had living as a 'sevak' (attendant) after concealing his identity, they said.
Bodke was part of an 11-member gang who had hatched a conspiracy to eliminate witnesses in a bid to weaken the cases of sexual assault filed against the controversial preacher in Gujarat and Rajasthan, said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Parthrajsinh Gohil.
Asaram (86) is currently lodged in a Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan in a rape case.
Prajapati, who had served as Asaram's personal doctor, was shot dead by two assailants at his dispensary in Rajkot in June 2014.
While three persons, including sharp shooter Kartik Haldar (who had opened fire), were already arrested by police for the murder, eight other accused, including Bodke, were absconding after the incident, Gohil told reporters.
The Ayurveda doctor was vocal about Asaram's misdeeds and also became a witness in the rape case filed by one of the two victim sisters in Ahmedabad in 2013.
"Bodke was part of the plan to eliminate those who were either witnesses in the cases against Asaram or speaking against him. While three, including Haldar, were already arrested, Bodke and seven others were absconding. Recently, we learnt Bodke was living at an ashram in Kalaburagi," said the DCP.
A Rajkot police team nabbed Bodke, a native of Maharashtra, from the ashram and brought him here on Friday. The accused had been living as a 'sevak' in the ashram by hiding his identity, Gohil informed.
"A preliminary probe has revealed that apart from the Prajapati case, Bodke was also involved in attacking three other persons who had spoken against Asaram in the past. One case of acid attack was also registered against him in Surat. Now, seven accused are left to be nabbed (in Prajapati murder case). Further probe is being conducted by the CID-Crime," said the police officer.
Following his arrest in 2016 by the Gujarat ATS, Haldar had told officials he had been instructed by other 'sadhaks' (followers) of Asaram to kill witnesses so as to weaken cases against the controversial preacher.
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Karnataka to approach SC seeking permission to continue MGNREGA
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue implementation of MGNREGA in the state, contending that the Centre had repealed the rural employment guarantee law without consultation and failed to put in place any alternative mechanism under the VB-G RAM G Act.
Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state would immediately move the apex court seeking permission to prepare and implement the annual action plan for rural employment works, while also challenging what it described as an infringement on the constitutional rights of states.
The parliament passed VB-G RAM G in December that replaces MGNREGA.
Patil explained that the Cabinet decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare an action plan in this regard. Since the Centre’s stand interferes with the constitutional rights of state governments, the Cabinet has also decided to challenge this issue before the appropriate court
“There are two points here. One is that they have come in the way of our constitutional right of providing the right to work. That has been halted, and, therefore, the State Government has decided to approach the Supreme Court. The second point is that the Government of India has not provided any alternative,” the Minister said.
The Central Government has not yet issued a notification to implement the VB-G RAM G Act, nor has it made any alternative arrangements and hence continuing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is unavoidable in the public interest, the Minister said.
“Therefore, in the interest of the public, farmers and agricultural labourers, we must continue MGNREGA. For that purpose, the Cabinet has decided to approach the court seeking permission for the State Government to prepare the action plan for this year,” he added.
The Minister also said the Centre had only permitted continuation of pending and spillover MGNREGA works without releasing grants or announcing a fresh action plan.
“The Centre itself has said that pending, spillover and half-done MGNREGA works can continue. That means MGNREGA is actually still functioning in practice. But there is no new action plan,” he said.
Patil said the state had already passed a resolution on the issue, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Prime Minister and the Rural Development Minister had held discussions with Union Ministers.
Replying to questions, the minister said the state would move court “as immediately as possible.”
He clarified that the state was seeking permission to formulate and implement this year’s action plan under the existing framework.
“What we are asking the Supreme Court is to allow us to have the action plan for this year and implement it,” he said.
The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on the final report submitted by the State Education Policy Commission headed by former UGC chairman Professor Sukhadeo Thorat.
Patil said a Cabinet sub-committee would be constituted to examine the report and recommend measures for implementation.
“No decision has been taken yet. The Cabinet sub-committee will recommend what should be accepted and what should be modified,” he said.
He said the report comprised around eight volumes and covered issues relating to financial implications, human resources, curriculum reforms, deemed universities, unitary universities and newly established universities. The Chief Minister has been authorised to constitute the sub-committee.
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Related Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Amendment Bill, 2026, transferring welfare administration of transport-related workers from the Labour Department to the Transport Department.
The Cabinet further approved establishment of three new industrial estates in Kalaburagi, Yadgir and Surpur under the Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules, 2026, providing two per cent reservation in state civil services appointments for sportspersons.
