ITAHARI, Dec 7: Sunsari District Court on Friday remanded Krishnadas Giri popularly known as 'Siddhababa' to judicial custody for seven more days for investigation into a rape charge.

A single bench of district judge Khimananda Bhusal extended the judicial remand. Earlier on Monday, the district court had remanded Giri in judicial custody for four days. Giri is accused of raping a female follower at his Ashram in Chatara, Sunsari.

According to Gopal Giri, spokesperson for the district court the District Police Office, Sunsari, has even failed to record the statement of 'Siddhababa'.

He is in the ICU at Biratnagar-based Birat Nursing Home due to heart and chest problems since the past several days.

A team of police led by DSP Binod Sharma arrested Giri from Birat Nursing Home and presented him before the court on Monday. The district court last Friday had issued an arrest warrant against Giri. After Giri refused to board a police van, the police took him to the court in an ambulance.   DSP Sharma said that the police have started investigation. He further said they plan to record Giri's statement at the hospital itself.

The alleged victim had filed rape complaint with Metropolitan Police in Kathmandu on December 2.

According to the hospital, Giri has problems in his chest and heart. The victim has claimed that she was raped in the Ashram in Chatara, Sunsari on October 21. 

Meanwhile, Giri has claimed himself to be a master of Aayurveda, saying he did higher studies from several universities. In 2006, he had conducted a health camp to promote Aayurveda in Chatara, where high-profile political leaders were among his guests. 

High-ranking officials, towering figures from the industrial sector, civil society leaders and other influential persons have visited his Ashram over the past several years.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that Siddhababa has acquired citizenship certificates from two districts. The citizenship issued by the District Administration Office, Solukhumbu, shows his name as Krishna Bahadur Giri. Likewise, another citizenship has been issued from Sunsari with the name Shree Vaishnav Krishnadas. Four years ago, a complaint was filed at the District Administration Office, Sunsari, against Giri for having two citizenships but no action was taken.

 
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