Biratnagar, December 6

Sunsari District Court today extended the remand of rape accused Krishna Bahadur Giri, popularly known as spiritual guru Siddhababa, by seven days.

Siddhababa has been accused of raping one of his female followers. Police had taken Giri under control from the ICU of Birat Nursing Home and produced him before the court on Monday. The court had remanded Siddhababa to four days in custody for the first time.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Binod Sharma of District Police Office, Sunsari, said Siddhababa’s remand was extended as previously granted four-day remand expired today. He added further investigation would be carried out in the case in the extended remand period.

Siddhababa, who is undergoing treatment at Birat Nursing Home, was taken to the court in an ambulance and was again admitted to the hospital after his remand had been extended for the first time.

A female follower had registered a rape case against Siddhababa with Sunsari DPO saying she was called to his ashram and raped on October 21. The spiritual guru was admitted to Birat Nursing Home on November 28. Police had reached the court to get an arrest order against him on December 1. The court had issued an arrest warrant the next day.

Sunsari DPO is preparing to record Siddhababa’s statement at the nursing home in line with the court directive. “The process is on to record statements of his followers,” said DSP Sharma.