Chief Judicial Magistrate Jatin Thakkar extended Sai's police custody for 24 hours, as the police said he has to be grilled in connection with the bribe offered by his associates to police officers to dilute the case against him.

Surat: A local court today extended for a day the police custody of Asaram's son Narayan Sai in a rape case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Jatin Thakkar extended Sai's police custody for 24 hours, as the police said he has to be grilled in connection with the bribe offered by his associates to police officers to dilute the case against him.

Public Prosecutor Nayan Sukhadwala submitted that a day's custody was also required to question Sai about 21 SIM cards recovered during the course of the probe.

Sukhadwala told the magistrate that details from the cellular phone service provider company arrived last night and it was important to grill Sai about the source of SIM cards and other details.

Besides, since Sai was taken to different cities across the country, he could not be questioned during the five-day remand granted before this, he argued, adding that Sai had not co-operated with investigators.

The police wants to find out the source of Rs 5 crore recovered from Sai's aides, he said.

The police had detained six people, including a police sub-inspector, in connection with an alleged conspiracy to bribe cops, doctors and judicial officers to weaken the case against Sai.

Sai and two of his aides were arrested by the Delhi Police on December 4 from the Delhi-Haryana border.

Two Surat-based sisters have accused Sai and his father, controversial godman Asaram, of rape. The elder sister levelled allegations against Asaram, while the younger sister charged Narayan Sai with raping her.

Asaram (72) is currently in a Jodhpur jail after being arrested in September for alleged sexual assault of a minor girl at his ashram there.

PTI