Akhil Gupta, a witness in the Surat rape case in which Asaram Bapu is an accused, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Jansath Road in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday evening.

The police said the 35-year-old was shot at while returning home. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Gupta was the cook and personal aide of Godman Asaram, who is in jail in connection with another case of sexual assault on a minor girl.

Two sisters from Surat have accused Asaram and his son Narayan Sai of rape.