Self-styled godman Asaram's trust could face action for running an ashram in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district without allegedly obtaining the land-use conversion. Following complaints from locals that the trust had violated land laws to build two ashrams, Bharatpur District Collector Neeraj K Pawan went to inspect them one in Bharatpur, the other at Bayana.
"There were no irregularities at the Bayana ashram but the one at Bharatpur was built on agricultural land, which is illegal," Pawan said. The local tehsildar has been ordered to inquire into the matter and take necessary action against ashram authorities, he added. "I have asked the local tehsildar to initiate an inquiry.
He will submit his report to the SDM. "Ashram authorities will be given a chance to present their case before determining the action to be taken," he said, adding that, in such cases, the land may be acquired by the government or a penalty may be imposed. Asaram's Bharatpur ashram is spread over four bighas of land and has a hut where the controversial guru used to stay in isolation during visits there, he said.
However, ashram authorities claim that the agriculture land was almost a decade back donated to them by one Ramesh Saini and is currently registered in the name of the trust.
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