Sri Sri may not have been the target: Chidambaram

A day after a bullet was fired in the Bangalore ashram of Sri Sri Ravishankar, different versions emerged on Monday with Home Minister P Chidambaram and Karnataka police saying he may not have been the target and the spiritual guru suggesting the attack was aimed at him.

Chidambaram and the police also suggested that internal rivalry may have led to the incident, but the popular 54-year-old Ravishankar dismissed this assessment, calling it 'baseless'.

"Police cannot absolve itself of its responsibility by taking it lightly. It has to be investigated properly. The fact is that the bullet was fired in the direction of my car and a devotee has been injured. It has to be taken seriously and probed," Ravishankar said in Bangalore. The spiritual guru also said he has forgiven the attacker.

As the bigger picture on the popular guru escaping unhurt in the wake of the firing at his convoy at the ashram after his discourse last evening emerged, Chidambaram said he "may not" have been the target and in all probability it could be the result of a dispute between two of his disciples.

Asked to comment on the incident, Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi, "Our reports says that the incident took place after Sri Sri Ravishankar left the place in his car and, therefore, it may not be correct, I underline, may not be correct to say that the firing was aimed at him."

The home minister said an oral report has been received in the incident but a written report is expected.