DHAKA: A controversial spiritual guru was arrested early Sunday on a rape charge filed by a teen-age girl in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, police said.

Asaram Bapu was arrested at a spiritual retreat in central India and flown to the city of Jodhpur where police say he is wanted for allegedly raping the girl, said Ajay Singh Lamba, a top police officer, reports The Straits Times.

The case is the latest in a series of high-profile rape cases in India that have fuelled public protests and raised questions about how police handle the cases and treat the victims.

The girl filed a complaint two weeks ago accusing the Hindu religious preacher of raping her when she visited his retreat in Jodhpur with her mother.

The girl’s family says they have been followers of Asaram Bapu for more than a decade.

BDST: 1438 HRS, SEPT 01, 2013
RoR/BSK