A witness in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was shot at and seriously injured by unidentified assailants in Shahjahanpur district, police said here on Saturday.

35-year-old Kripal Singh was shot at by two unidentified motorcycle-borne persons in Puwayan area while he was on his way home last night, they said.

Police said that Singh, who sustained severe bullet injuries was rushed to Bareilly where his condition was stated to be critical.

In a statement given to Additional City Magistrate, Singh had alleged that people connected to Asaram Bapu were threatening him from the last few days.

Police said that Singh was an employee of a transport company, whose owner's daughter had lodged a case of sexual assault against the self-styled godman,.

In January this year, another witness who had served as a cook at Asaram's ashram was shot dead in Muzaffarnagar.