The order from the panel probing the two deaths came amid protests from the state government as well as the parents of victims, who said they did not have “trust in the words of” Asaram and his son and demanded that warrants be issued against them.

The father-son duo have been evading summons from the Commission for long. Following their failure to appear on Thursday, the Commission had said it would decide on Friday if warrants could be issued against the two. However, on Friday, an administrator of Asaram Ashram-run gurukul produced a written assurance from Asaram and his son expressing their willingness to depose before the Commission.

The panel, while fixing the dates for their deposition, observed that even if it issued warrants against the two, it was not guaranteed these would be successfully served on them by police.

The panel has directed Asaram and his son to file an undertaking by November 10 to make it clear they would appear before it on due dates.

Apex court rejects plea for CBI probe

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to order a CBI probe into the death of two boys in religious guru Asaram Bapu’s ashram in Ahmedabad in 2008.

A bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam dismissed the plea filed by family members of the victims.

The family members had alleged the ashram authorities were involved in the case and it was not possible for the state police to conduct a free and fair investigation.

The bench, after going through all the evidence, said there was no need for a CBI probe but clarified the trial court could order further probe if new facts came up.

The apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the family members challenging a Gujarat High Court order, which too had refused to direct a CBI probe in the case.

Two young boys, Deepesh and Abhishek, had gone missing from the ashram on July 3, 2008 and two days later on July 5, 2008, they were found dead outside the ashram.