The family of the victim in the 2013 rape case against Asaram Bapu has been given additional security measures, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant Asaram interim bail on medical grounds, said police on Wednesday.

Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Sanjay Kumar Sagar stated that he personally visited the victim’s home after the Supreme Court’s ruling and spoke with the family. “A police guard has already been stationed at the victim’s residence, and her father is provided with a gunner for additional security. We are now assigning more police personnel and have issued necessary instructions to the local police station and circle officer to ensure the family’s protection,” Sagar explained.

He also noted, “Orders have been issued to repair the non-functional CCTV cameras around the victim’s home, and her father has been advised to notify the authorities before leaving the premises. We are closely monitoring the family’s safety, given the high-profile nature of this case.”

The victim’s father expressed his shock at the news of Asaram’s interim bail, stating, “I haven’t been able to sleep since hearing this; I am immensely worried about my family’s safety. Even while in prison, Asaram was allegedly responsible for the murders of four witnesses — Rajkot’s Amrut Prajapati, Akhil Gupta (a cook), Lucknow’s Rahul Sachan, and Shahjahanpur’s Kripal Singh.”

He accused Asaram of orchestrating false cases against him in various locations, including Jammu, Jodhpur, Delhi, and Surasagar, while still incarcerated. “Two of my witnesses, Bholanand and Sureshanand, are currently missing. The government claims that laws exist to ensure capital punishment for crimes against minors, yet the court continues to show leniency in Asaram’s case,” he added.

Asaram, who is currently serving a life sentence for sexual assault, was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court until March 31, 2025, under specific conditions. His past privileges include a 7-day parole in 2018, which was later extended by an additional five days, and a more recent 17-day parole granted on December 10, 2024.

In 2013, Asaram was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor from Shahjahanpur at his ashram in Jodhpur, following a case filed by the victim’s father in Delhi, which ultimately led to Asaram receiving a life sentence.

Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, sparked widespread discussion with a recent LinkedIn post where he claimed that the majority of Indian employees are dissatisfied with their jobs and would likely opt out of work altogether if their financial security were assured.

Deshpande remarked, “One of the tragic and late realizations I’ve had is—most people don’t like their jobs. If everyone in India was given sustenance money and financial security their current jobs provide, 99 percent wouldn’t show up to work the next day.”

He elaborated that this sentiment spans across various sectors, from blue-collar workers and government employees to gig workers and employees of so-called “fun and employee-friendly startups” like his own company, Bombay Shaving Company. Deshpande acknowledged that the motivation to work is predominantly tied to the paycheck, describing it as a “dangling carrot” that has been an accepted norm for centuries.

“To usurp someone away from their homes and families all day, sometimes for days and weeks, with the dangling carrot of a paycheck—it’s assumed acceptable because it has been the way nations were built over 250+ years,” Deshpande wrote.

Highlighting wealth disparity

The CEO also addressed the stark economic inequality in India, noting that a small number of families control a significant portion of the country’s wealth. While he did not provide exact figures, Deshpande emphasized that these families contribute less than 1.8% of the nation’s taxes.

He used the post to reflect on the structural inequalities of the workplace and urged those in privileged positions to act with generosity. “If you have resources, be kind and generous, and help lift as many people up as possible,” he concluded.

Mixed Reactions

Deshpande’s comments have elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some agreeing with his assessment of work culture and economic disparity, while others criticized his generalization and approach. His post continues to fuel debate about employee satisfaction, wealth distribution, and the broader state of work-life balance in India.

India has reportedly extended the visa of Bangladesh’s deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in the country since August last year. This decision comes against the backdrop of mounting demands from the interim government in Bangladesh for her extradition.

However, reports quoted sources who refuted claims of Sheikh Hasina being granted asylum. The former Prime Minister fled Dhaka on August 5 amid violent protests by students. The sources clarified that India lacks specific legislation for granting asylum and emphasized that her visa extension should not be interpreted as a move towards offering refuge.

They added that this visa extension is purely a technical extension to facilitate her stay, confirming that Hasina has been living under tight security in a safehouse in Delhi.

Meanwhile, the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, formally sought Hasina’s extradition on December 23. Dhaka officials further claimed that Hasina must face charges related to her alleged involvement in incidents of violence and disappearances during the 2024 protests, which left more than 500 people dead.

Furthermore, Bangladesh’s immigration department on Tuesday announced the cancellation of 97 passports, including that of former PM Hasina’s. Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, a spokesperson for Yunus, stated that it was linked to allegations of enforced disappearances and killings during the 2024 protests.

Addressing a press briefing, he said that passports of 22 individuals were revoked for their involvement in enforced disappearances, while 75 others, including Sheikh Hasina, were implicated in the July killings.

While Bangladesh former PM Sheikh Hasina’s prolonged stay poses no immediate threat to bilateral relations between both countries, Dhaka’s extradition demand has complicated the situation.

The extradition follows at a time when Bangladesh’s interim government is under fire for its handling of opposition leaders. Many critics have argued that the cancellation of Hasina’s passport and the charges levelled against her were politically motivated attempts to consolidate power ahead of the next general elections.